The effects of chondroitinase ABC on the rabbit intervertebral disc. A roentgenographic and histologic study.
A series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC was performed in 31 young adult rabbits. Roentgenograms were taken immediately postinjection and were repeated at two, three, five, six, seven, or nine days after injection. All had roentgenographic evidence of disc space narrowing at all stages after the injection. Histologic evaluation of safranin-O fast green-stained sections indicated degradation of proteoglycans in the annulus fibrosus of chondroitinase ABC-injected discs. The cells of the chondroitinase ABC-injected discs, the end plates, and the growth-plate areas of adjacent vertebral bodies appeared unaffected.
Eurell
J A
JA
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
Brown
M D
MD
Ramos
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002808:Chondroitin Lyases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002810:Chondroitinases and Chondroitin Lyases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors
D002917:Chymopapain; D002808:Chondroitin Lyases; D002810:Chondroitinases and Chondroitin Lyases