Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.8(1) > 1035997

Baek, Jahng, and Ha: Effect of Leukotriene B4 and Thromboxane B2 on Lumbar Nerve Roots in Rat

Abstract

Study Design

The motor impairment and sensory dysfunction were evaluated in twenty- eight rats after dropping of leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2 on lumbar nerve roots.

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of inflammatory products on lumbar nerve roots of the rats without mechanical compression.

Materials and Methods

Twenty- eight Sprague- Dawley rats were evenly divided into four groups (7 rats in each group) according to the substances applied: In group I (sham operation), even dropping of normal saline on left 4 th, 5 th and 6 th lumbar nerve roots: In group II, leukotriene B4; In group III, thromboxane B2: In group IV, leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2. All rats were tested at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 14th postoperative day for motor impairment and sensory dysfunction to the heat.

Results

Hypersensitivity to the heat started to appear at 1 st postoperative day in group IV and at 3 rd day in groups II and III and was maximum at 5th day in group III and 7th day in groups II and IV compared with the control group. The histological study also showed moderate to marked necrosis of ganglion cells and infiltration of the inflammatory cells compared to the control group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2 produce inflammatory reactions in or around the nerve roots and lead to thermal hyperalgesia in rats without mechanical copmpression, therefore these results may apply to human lumbar nerve roots.

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Fig. 1.
Lumbar nerve roots were treated saline(A), leukotriene B4(B), thromboxane B2(C) and leukotriene plus thromboxane(D). At the day which showed maximum TWL values(7 days for A, B, D; 5 days for C), nerve roots were excised. Inflammatory cells, eg polymorphonuclear leukocytes(arrow) and autolysis(arrow head) or necrosis(a) of ganglion cells were shown. More inflammatory cells and autolysis were shown at A, C, B, D in turn(hemotoxylin and eosin, × 400).
jkss-8-8f1.tif
Table 1.
Thermal withdrawal latency(TWL)
  Preop. Postoperativ days
1 days 3 days 5 days 7 days 10 days 14 days
Group I 5.6 −6.9 −7.5 −8.7 −7.1 −8.6 −7.5
Group II −6.7 −8.5 −16.0 −29.0 −47.8 −36.5 −27.5
Group III 4.5 −7.6 −13.5 −21.6 −14.1 −12.0 −11.0
Group IV 3.2 −15.8 −23.5 −32.5 −68.9 −43.0 −31.7

P<0.05, compared with the control group(repeated measure ANOVA)

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