Regeneration of intervertebral disc by the intradiscal application of cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel and cross-linked chondroitin sulfate hydrogel in a rabbit model of intervertebral disc injury

Abstract

The degeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) is a major cause of low back pain. However, there is no satisfactory preventive treatment for degenerative disc disease (DDD). In this study, we examined the effects of a novel cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel and cross-linked chondroitin sulfate (CS) hydrogel on a rabbit model of IVD injury. We injected 300 microl of phosphate buffer saline, 1% sodium hyaluronate, cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel, or cross-linked CS hydrogel into the injured IVDs. One, three or six months after treatment, the whole spinal columns were dissected and magnetic resonance (MR) images of the IVDs were examined. It was noted that the IVD, which was injected with cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel or cross-linked CS hydrogel mostly retained the normal signal intensity of the MR images. These IVDs exhibited a higher degree of staining with safranin-O than the control discs or 1% sodium hyaluronate-injected discs, suggesting that the intradiscal application of cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel or cross-linked CS hydrogel probably inhibits the degenerative cascade of the DDD. The intradiscal administration of these drugs is safe, easy and costs less. In the near future, these intradiscal injections may become the standard therapy for the treatment of DDD instead of the spine surgeries.