Pathological and immunohistochemical study on nerve injury by disc herniation

2000 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 11671456
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: TOKAI UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: MOCHIDA Joji Tokai University School of medicine, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (50174347)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TOH Eiren Tokai University School of medicine, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (70266419)
• Project Period (FY): 1999 – 2000
• Keywords: disc herniation / nucleus pulposus / spinal nerve root / nerve injury

Research Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate mechanical factor and/or immunohistochemical reaction around the spinal nerve roots by disc herniation. Experimental animal model for lumbar disc lesion was made using Japanese white rabbits and placement of normal disc material or degenerated disc material on the spinal root with or without further mechanical compression. Placement of fatty tissue also was used at the counterlateral spinal nerve root as a contrast study. The spinal nerve roots or adjacent disc material was studied on pathological or immunohistochemical appearance using various antirabbit monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, axonal flow with hoeseradish peroxidase was evaluated for the spinal nerve roots. No immunohistochemical or pathological abnormality was noted in the spinal roots without further mechanical compression. Axonal flow was involved in the spinal nerve roots with mechanical compression. Emergence of macrophages around the nerve roots was variable and stain of CD4 or CD5 was prominent in the spinal nerve roots with placement of normal disc material. Those findings indicated that nerve injury by disc herniation is strongly related to mechanical compression and degenerated disc is less influencing on nerve tissue rather than normal disc material.