针刺颈夹脊穴对大鼠退变颈椎间盘细胞外基质金属蛋白酶1、3和金属蛋白酶抑制因子1的影响

目的:观察针刺颈夹脊穴对大鼠退变颈椎间盘细胞外基质金属蛋白酶1、3(MMP-1、MMP-3)和金属蛋白酶抑制因子1(TIMP-1)的影响,探讨针刺治疗椎间盘退变的作用机制。方法:建立大鼠动静力失衡性颈椎间盘退变模型,随机分为模型组、针刺组、药物组,并设空白对照组。针刺组取颈部夹脊穴,药物组采用布洛芬加颈复康灌胃。治疗30d后,采用ELISA技术检测颈椎间盘MMP-1、MMP-3、TIMP-1的含量,并以光镜下椎间盘组织形态学退变为对比依据。结果:针刺和药物治疗组椎间盘较模型组形态稍规则,纤维环排列稍整齐,髓核皱缩轻;促进椎间盘胶原分解的MMP-1、MMP-3组间比较,各造模组较空白对照组明显增多(P<0.05),针刺组和药物组比模型组减少(P<0.05);TIMP-1组间比较,各造模组较空白对照组明显减少(P<0.05),针刺组比模型组增多(P<0.05),其它组间比较的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:针刺颈夹脊穴可能通过调控椎间盘细胞外基质系统而达到治疗椎间盘退变性颈椎病的作用。

Effects of Electroacupuncture at Jiaji(EX-B 2)on Extracellular Matrix MMP-1,MMP-3 and TIMP-1 Levels in the Degenerated Cervical Intervertebral Disc in Rats

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of Jiaji (EX-B 2) on the contents of extracellu-lar matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-I, MMP-3 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in the cervical interverte-bral disc (CIVD) tissue in rats with CIVD degeneration so as to explore its mechanism in relieving intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods SD rats were randomized into control (n = 15), model (n = 14), EA (n = 13) and medication (n = 14) groups. CIVD model was established according to Wang's and Shi's~(3-4]) method. EA (10/20 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to Jiaji (EX-B 2) for 10 min, once daily for 30 days. The rats of medication group were fed with Fenbid (15 mg/kg/d) and Jingfukang (0. 5 g/kg/d) for 30 days. Extracellular matrix MMP-1, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 levels of the intervertebral disc tissue (C_(4-6)) were detected by ELISA. Results The contents of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in model group were increased significantly compared with con-trol group (P<0. 05), while TIMP-1 in model group was markedly lower than that of control group (P<0. 05). Compared with model group, both MMP-1 and MMP-3 levels in EA group and MMP-1 in medication group were reduced considerably (P<0. 05), while TIMP-1 of EA group increased significantly (P<0. 05). No significant differences were found between medication and model groups in MMP-3 and TIMP-1 levels (P>0. 05). Under optical microscope, the injured degrees of the fibrous ring and nucleus pul-posus, and the outline of the intervertebral disc of both EA and medication groups were evidently lighter than those of model group, but the degeneration severity of the intervertebral disc of EA group was lighter than that of medication group. Conclusion EA of Jiaji (EX-B 2) can effectively relieve the degeneration degree of cervical intervertebral disc in the rat, which is probably re-lated to its effect in regulating extracellular matrix system.