title: Proteoglycans in the nucleus pulposus of canine intervertebral discs after chondroitinase ABC treatment.
abstract: Experimental chemonucleolysis of the canine intervertebral disc with chondroitinase ABC and chymopapain was compared during a 52-week period. Roentgenograms and magnetic resonance imaging were used to examine changes in disc space and water content, respectively. Disc space narrowing and reductions in disc water content after chondroitinase ABC treatment were less than that after chymopapain. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to measure changes in proteoglycans. Similarly to chymopapain, chondroitinase ABC degrades proteoglycans in the nucleus pulposus and decreases their quantity. However, large differences in the molecular weight and acidity of the resynthesized proteoglycans and in the chain length of the resynthesized glycosaminoglycans were observed between the two enzymes. The difference in disc space narrowing and the changes in disc water content between the two enzymes might result from differences in the characteristics of the resynthesized proteoglycans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takagaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011509:Proteoglycans; D002917:Chymopapain; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase