中性蛋白酶在颈椎间盘退变中的作用机制

目的：研究中性蛋白酶在颈椎间盘退变中的作用机制。方法：实验选用20只新西兰兔分为造模与对照两组，每组再分术后3和8个月观察组。通过切除造模组动物颈椎棘上、棘间韧带及分离颈椎后旁两侧肌肉，造成颈椎力学上的失衡而诱导兔的颈椎间盘退行性变化。在术后3和8个月时分别处死各组动物，取动物颈椎间盘组织，测定其中胶原酶和丝氨酸蛋白酶活性。结果：造模组动物颈椎间盘中胶原酶和丝氨酸蛋白酶活性明显高于各自的对照组。造模组术后3个月组动物颈椎间盘中胶原酶和丝氨酸蛋白酶活性高于术后8个月组动物。结论：退变颈椎间盘中胶原酶和丝氨酸蛋白酶活性明显升高，但酶活性升高程度并不与椎间盘退变程度一致。提示胶原酶和丝氨酸蛋白酶在椎间盘退变的启动过程中起重要作用。

Study on mechanism of neutral proteinases in degenerated cervical disc

Objective:To study the mechanism of neutral proteinases in degenerated cervical disc. Methods: Twenty white New Zealand rabbits were separated into 2 groups: model group and control group, each group consisted of 2 subgroup, each subgroup had 5 rabbits. The experimental model of degenerated cervical disc in the rabbit was established by resection of cervical supraspinous and interspinous ligaments and detachment of posterior paravertebral muscles from the cervical vertebrae. Rabbits in 3 month groups and in 8 month groups were killed 3 months and 8 months after operation respectively. The cervical disc tissues in all 4 groups were assayed to detect collagenase and serine proteinase activities by biochemical methods. Results: Collagenase and serine proteinase activities in discs from model subgroups were obviously higher than those of control subgroups. Collagenase and serine proteinase activities in discs from model subgroup in 3 month were higher than those of model subgroup in 8 month. Conclusion: Collagenase and serine proteinase activities in degenerated cervical discs are increased obviously, and their increase extents are not related to the extent of cervical disc degeneration. The results suggest that the collagenase and serine proteinase play an important role in early stage of the cervical disc degeneration.