Molecular biology of intervertebral disk degeneration caused by bilateral zygapophysial joint unstability / 基础医学与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To study aggrecan, collagen type Ⅰ and collagen type Ⅱ gene expression of intervertebral disk degeneration through destroying bilateral zygapophysial joints of New-Zealand rabbit. Methods Thirty male New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into operation groups on the bone and operation group on the soft tissue. In operation group of the bone, L4 and L5 inferior articular processes were en bloc excised, L5 and L6 superior articular processes were retained. In the operation group of soft-tissue, only L3 to L7 paravertebral muscles were stripped. In operation group of the bone, L4-5 and L5-6 intervertebral disks were acted as experimental group; L3-4 and L6-7 acted as self-control group. In the operation of soft tissue, L4-5 and L5-6 were acted as experimentalcontrol group. One、two、four and eight months post-operation, New-Zealand rabbits were killed. Aggrecan, collagen type Ⅰ and collagen type Ⅱ gene expression were performed with semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ mRNA levels decreased markedly, whereas type Ⅰ collagen mRNA gradually increased. At the same time, aggrecan, collagen type Ⅱ gene expression were the least in experiment group, whereas were most in the experiment-control group. Collagen type Ⅰ showed the contra-tendency. Conclusion Intervertebral disk degeneration can be induced through destroying L4-5 and L5-6 zygapophysial joints of New-Zealand rabbit.Aggrecan, collagen type Ⅰ and collagen type Ⅱ gene expression can reflect intervertebral disk degeneration.