Study on salvianolic acid B in the reduction of epidural fibrosis in laminectomy rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Epidural fibrosis (EF) is a common complication after laminectomy. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a major bioactive component of a traditional Chinese medical agent, Salvia miltiorrhiza, which has shown anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-proliferative properties. The object of this study was to investigate the effect of Sal B on the prevention of epidural fibrosis in laminectomy rats.

METHODS:

A controlled double-blinded study was conducted in sixty healthy adult Wistar rats that underwent laminectomy at the L1-L2 levels. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 20: (1) Sal B treatment group; (2) Vehicle group; (3) Sham group (laminectomy without treatment). All rats were sacrificed 4 weeks post-operatively. The extent of epidural fibrosis, fibroblast proliferation and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory factors were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The recovery of all rats was uneventful. In the laminectomy sites treated with Sal B, the dura mater showed no adhesion. Collagen deposition was significantly lower in the Sal B group than the other two groups. In addition, both fibroblast and inflammatory cell counting in the laminectomy sites treated with Sal B showed better grades than the other two groups. The expression of VEGF and inflammatory factors in operative sites also suggested better results in the Sal B group than the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Sal B inhibits fibroblast proliferation, blood vessel regeneration, and inflammatory factor expression. Thus, Sal B is able to prevent epidural scar adhesion in post-laminectomy rats.

• Authors: Feng Chen, Zhenbo Zuo, Kai Wang, Chengdong Zhang, Haifeng Gong, Fagang Ye, Aiyu Ji, Hao Tao
• Journal: BMC musculoskeletal disorders (BMC Musculoskelet Disord) Vol. 15 Pg. 337 (Oct 07 2014) ISSN: 1471-2474 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25294002 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Benzofurans
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Interleukin-6
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• salvianolic acid B
• Hydroxyproline

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Benzofurans (therapeutic use)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cicatrix (pathology)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (therapeutic use)
• Epidural Space (blood supply, pathology)
• Fibroblasts (cytology, drug effects)
• Fibrosis (prevention & control)
• Hydroxyproline (analysis)
• Interleukin-6 (analysis)
• Laminectomy (adverse effects)
• Male
• Rats, Wistar
• Tissue Adhesions (pathology)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (analysis)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (analysis)