J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2001 Mar;8(1):8-14.

Effect of Leukotriene B4 and Thromboxane B2 on Lumbar Nerve Roots in Rat

• Baek DH
• Jahng J
• Ha KY

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: The motor impairment and sensory dysfunction were evaluated in twenty-eight rats after dropping of leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2 on lumbar nerve roots.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effects of inflammatory products on lumbar nerve roots of the rats without mechanical compression.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were evenly divided into four groups (7 rats in each group) according to the substances applied: In group I (sham operation), even dropping of normal saline on left 4th, 5th and 6th lumbar nerve roots: In group II, leukotriene B4; In group III, thromboxane B2: In group IV, leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2. All rats were tested at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 14th postoperative day for motor impairment and sensory dysfunction to the heat.
RESULTS
Hypersensitivity to the heat started to appear at 1st postoperative day in group IV and at 3rd day in groups II and III and was Maximum at 5th day in group III and 7 th day in groups II and IV compared with the control group. The histological study also showed moderate to marked necrosis of ganglion cells and infiltration of the inflammatory cells compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2 produce inflammatory reactions in or around the nerve roots and lead to thermal hyperalgesia in rats without mechanical copmpression, therefore these results may apply to human lumbar nerve roots.

Keyword

Lumbar spine; Radiculopathy; Hyperalgesia; Leukotriene B4 and Thromboxane B2

MeSH Terms

Animals
Ganglion Cysts
Hot Temperature
Humans
Hyperalgesia
Hypersensitivity
Leukotriene B4*
Necrosis
Radiculopathy
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Thromboxane B2*
Leukotriene B4
Thromboxane B2

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Lumbar nerve roots were treated saline(A), leukotriene B4(B), thromboxane B2(C) and leukotriene plus thromboxane(D). At the day which showed maximum TWL values(7 days for A, B, D; 5 days for C), nerve roots were excised. Inflammatory cells, eg polymorphonuclear leukocytes(arrow) and autolysis(arrow head) or necrosis(a) of ganglion cells were shown. More inflammatory cells and autolysis were shown at A, C, B, D in turn(hemotoxylin and eosin, × 400).

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