D-Ribose-L-Cysteine prevents intervertebral disc degeneration in annular puncture-induced rabbit model

ABSTRACT

Degeneration of the intervertebral discs is strongly implicated as the main cause of low back pain. To determine the preventive potential of D-Ribose-L-Cysteine in annular punctured intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbit model. Twenty New Zealand white rabbits (1.5 to 3.0 kg each) underwent annular puncture of the L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5 discs. Group 1 (non-punctured control) were given phosphate-buffered saline; group 2 (model control) were given phosphate-buffered saline immediately after puncture for 4 weeks ; group 3 (punctured treated) were given 150 mg/kg/bw of D-Ribose-L-Cysteine solution immediately after puncture for 4 weeks; group 4 (punctured treated) were given 300 mg/kg/bw of D-Ribose-L-Cysteine solution immediately after puncture for 4 weeks. Rabbits were sacrificed at 4 weeks after puncture. The animals were housed individually in a meshed wire bottom cages with access to water and standard chow ad libitum. The serial X-rays were performed at 0 and 4 weeks for the rabbits and whole spinal column and discs were extracted and analyzed for various histological staining techniques (H&E and HVG), biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis. The X-rays showed a progressive decrease in disc height over timewhich was significantly prevented by the D-Ribose-L-Cysteine administration. The histological grade, collagen type 1 and 2, aggrecan, and matrix metalloprotease-13 mRNA expression and histological analysis were consistently indicative of degeneration, supporting the results of the X-ray data. This study has now documented that D-Ribose-L-Cysteine halts the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration and can be useful as prophylactic agents especially in people prone to disc degeneration

RESUMEN

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