title: Calcium channel blockers in reduction of epidural fibrosis and dural adhesions in laminectomy rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of verapamil on the prevention of epidural fibrosis in laminectomy rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled double-blinded study was conducted in sixty healthy adult Wistar rats that underwent laminectomy at the L1-L2 levels. All rats were divided randomly into three groups according to the treatment method, with 20 in each group: (1) VP treatment group; (2) vehicle treatment group; and (3) sham group (laminectomy without treatment). All rats were killed 4 weeks post-laminectomy. The hydroxyproline content, Rydell score, vimentin cells density, fibroblasts density, inflammatory cells density and inflammatory factors expressions were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histological evaluation showed less epidural scar adhesions in verapamil group than other two groups. The hydroxyproline content, Rydell score, vimentin cells density, fibroblasts density, inflammatory cells density and inflammatory factors expressions all suggested better results in verapamil group than other two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical application of verapamil could inhibit fibroblasts proliferation and TGF-β1 and IL-6 expressions and prevent epidural scar adhesion in post-laminectomy rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Pingjin Hospital, Logistics University of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, 220th Chenlinzhuang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004388:Dura Mater; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014700:Verapamil; D006909:Hydroxyproline