Research On The Effect Of Rhizoma Drynariae Flavonoids On The Degeneration Of Cervical Intervertebral Disc In Rats

Objective: To investigate the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of Rhizoma drynaria flavones on the cervical intervertebral discs degeneration in rats and analyze its clinical value.Methods: 50 Fifty SD rats(half male and half female)were randomly divided into two groups: 10 SD rats as sham-operated group and 40 SD rats as model group.The 40 SD rats of ligaments and muscles in the neck were cut off.The cervical disc degeneration was established by imbalance of dynamic and static force.Five months later,one rat was randomly selected in sham-operated group.Four rats were randomly selected in model group.After the successful establishment of the model through pathological identification of intervertebral disc,the remaining rats in model group were divided into model group,high-dose Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids group,middle-dose Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids group and low-dose Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids group.The rats in sham operation group and model group were given 4 ml 0.9% normal saline respectively for one moth.The rats in low dose group,middle dose group and high dose group were given 5 times(62.5 mg/kg),10 times(125mg/kg)and 20 times(250mg/kg)of Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids respectively for one moth.C3-4,C4-5,C5-6 and C6-C7 intervertebral discs were taken out completely.Immunohistochemistry,Elisa and Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to investigate the expression of MMP3 and TNF-? in the disc.Western blot was used to investigate the expression of p-I?B?.Results:(1)5 months later,we observed under the microscope: the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus in the model group was ruptured.The nucleus pulposus cells were apoptotic and the annulus fibrosus was zigzag.But the change in the sham operation group was not obvious,which indicated that the SD rats in the model group matched the pathological characteristics of IVDD,which proved that the model was successful.(2)Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that compared with the model group,the expression of m RNA TNF-? and m RNA MMP3 in the high,middle and low treatment group was significantly lower(P < 0.01),and the low dose Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids group was the best.(3)Immunohistochemistry showed that compared with the model group,the expression of MMP3 in the high,middle and low treatment was significantly lower(P < 0.01),and the low dose Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids was the best.(4)ELISA showed that compared with the model group,the expression of TNF-? in the treatment group decreased significantly(P < 0.01),and the low dose Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids group was the best.(5)Western blot showed that compared with the model group,the expression of p-I?B? in the treatment group decreased(P < 0.01),which was statistically significant,and the low dose Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids group was the best.Conclusion: Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids can inhibit the expressions of MMP3 and TNF-? by suppressing the NF-?B pathway in intervertebral disc degeneration.It can intervene intervertebral disc degeneration.And the optimal dose is the drug dose of low Rhizoma Drynariae flavonoids group.