Eur J Anat, 22 (5): 383-387 (2018)

Immobilization induced degeneration in intervertebral discs of rats and protective effects of omega 3 fatty acids and CoQ10

Fareeha Mushtaq, Abdullah Qamar, Madiha Ali, Shan E. Rauf

Anatomy Department of Army Medical College Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Institute of Health Islamabad

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to determine the effects of immobilization on the radiological indices of ratsâ?? intervertebral disc (IVD) and observe the protective effects of Omega 3 fatty acids and Co-enzyme Q 10 (CoQ10). The study comprised 40 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300g. After random selection, rats were divided into four groups having 10 animals in each. Group A rats, on standard lab diet, served as control group. Group B rats were disc immobilized by using an Illizarov-type apparatus which was applied for 60 days. Group C and D rats after disc immobilization were administrated with Omega 3 fatty acids (260mg/kg/day) (Abdou and Hassan, 2014) and CoQ10 (150mg/kg/day) (Kwong et al., 2002) through oral gavage respectively. Radiographs of rat tails were taken at the start and end of experiment to measure disc height index (DHI) and disc wedge index (DWI).On radiological examination, mean DHI of group A was measured as 0.0581 ± 0.004 while of Group B was 0.0324 ± 0.008 which was significantly lower as compared to group A (p-value <0.001). Whereas in groups C and D, mean DHI were 0.0552 ± 0.003 and 0.0563 ± 0.003 respectively. Similarly mean DWI of group A was calculated as 1.086 ± 0.020 and for Group B it was 1.628 ± 0.355 which was significantly increased than group A (p value < 0.001). Mean DWI of group C and D were calculated as 1.147 ± 0.038 and 1.188 ± 0.023 respectively showing improvement after administration of Omega 3 and CoQ10.In this study, radiological changes induced by immobilization in IVDs of the experimental rats and its reversal by omega 3 and CoQ10 were proven. Omega 3 and CoQ10 administration minimized immobilization induced degeneration of IVDs.

Keywords: Intervertebral disc degeneration â?? Immobilization â?? Disc height index â?? Disc wedge index