European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 23 - Number 2
Eur J Anat, 23 (2): 103-111 (2019)

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

B. Ogunlade1,2, S.A. Adelakun1, A.G. Ibiayo2, A.A. Alao3, S.A. Ogunlade4

1Human Anatomy Department, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, 2Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 3Union Diagnostic and Clinical Services, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, 4Pharmacy Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, Nigeria

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.

Keywords: Animal model â?? Intervertebral disc degeneration â?? D-Ribose-L-Cysteine â?? Histology â?? Gene expression

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)