Salvianolic acid B reduced the formation of epidural fibrosis in an experimental rat model.

Feng Chen,Jin Wang,Lanfeng Wang,Changyao Wang,Jintang Sun,Jianmin Li

doi:10.1186/s13018-016-0475-x

Abstract

BackgroundSalvianolic acid B (Sal B) was newly reported to be able to attenuate fibrosis in the animal model. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the intragastric application of Sal B on the prevention of epidural fibrosis (EF).MethodsForty healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into four treatment groups (n = 10 per group): (1) 10 mg/kg Sal B, (2) 30 mg/kg Sal B, (3) 50 mg/kg Sal B and (4) Saline (vehicle treatment, control group). All animals underwent a laminectomy at the lumbar 1–2 (L 1–2) level. After intragastric treatment, all rats were sacrificed at post-operative week 8. The extent of the epidural scar, the regeneration of the vasculature and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analysed.ResultsThe animals’ recovery was uneventful during the experimental period. The extent of the epidural scar, the regeneration of the vasculature and the expression levels of VEGF suggested better outcomes in the Sal B-treated groups. Sal B exerted the ability to prevent the formation of an epidural scar and vascularization at the laminectomy sites. The effects of Sal B were dose-dependent, with the 50 mg/kg Sal B group showing the best outcomes compared with the other groups.ConclusionsPost-operative intragastric application of Sal B can prevent the formation of epidural scarring. Sal B exerted these effects in a dose-dependent manner, and 50 mg/kg dose was shown to be the best effect in the present study. The results of this study reveal that Sal B could be a potential therapy for EF and valuable for further research.

Highlights

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) was newly reported to be able to attenuate fibrosis in the animal model
Epidural scar adhesion During the whole experimental period, none of the rats showed any signs of complications such as neurological deficits, disturbance of wound healing or wound infection
The present study suggested that a dose of 50 mg/kg Sal B resulted in the lowest levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the epidural scar and the lowest adhesion, and none of the animals died or showed any sign of complications until they were euthanized

Summary

Introduction

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) was newly reported to be able to attenuate fibrosis in the animal model. Epidural fibrosis (EF) is widely accepted as one of the most common factors that contribute to failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) [1]. EF is caused by multiple factors including nerve root tethering, interference of cerebrospinal fluid. Considering that another surgery at the same site to excise the epidural scar could lead the recurrence of the scar [5], the current widely accepted modalities for overcoming EF is to either inhibit or prevent the formation of excessive scar tissue [6, 7]. Many attempts have been conducted at both the clinical and experimental levels [8,9,10] None of these efforts have resulted in successful clinical application

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion