基质金属蛋白酶-3和血管内皮生长因子在不同月龄大鼠椎间盘组织中的表达及意义

THE EXPRESSION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-3 AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN THE INTERVERTEBRAL DISC OF RATS OF DIFFERENI AGES

目的检测不同月龄大鼠的椎间盘组织中基质金属蛋白酶-3(MMP3)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达,探讨MMP3和VEGF与椎间盘自发退变的关系。方法采用苏木精-伊红(HE)染色和链酶亲和素-过氧化物酶复合物(SABC)免疫组化方法及显微图像分析技术,测定50只Wistar大鼠(1、3、6、12、18月龄各10只)椎间盘组织中MMP3和VEGF的表达情况并观察椎间盘组织学变化。结果随着大鼠月龄的增长,其椎间盘中MMP3和VEGF的表达亦发生变化,由低月龄组(1-3月龄)至成龄组(12月龄)MMP3表达逐渐增多,而VEGF表达逐渐下降,且这种变化有显著统计学意义(P<0.01)。椎间盘的组织结构也发生变化,随月龄增加,椎间盘中软骨细胞数量减少,胶原纤维增生、粗大、走行紊乱。结论大鼠椎间盘结构随月龄增长发生性改变,椎间盘中MMP3和VEGF表达发生变化,这可能引起椎间盘的自发退变,而且这种改变与人的椎间盘的自然退变具有相似性和可比拟性。

Objective To determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 （MMP-3） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in the intervertebral disc tissue of Wistar rats of different ages in order to provide insights into the pathogenesis of retrogressive metamorphosis of annulus fibrosus. Methods The histological changes of intervertebral disc tissue was observed by haematoxyllineosin staining, and the presence of MMP3 and VEGF in intervertebral disc tissue of 50 Wistar rats （10 each in groups of 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months） were determined by SABC immunohistochemical staining and the micrography analysis system. Results The MMP-3- and VEGF-positive cell ratios significantly varied with aging. The histological structure of intervertebral disc tissue changed, the number of chondrocytes decreased, and the collagens were thick, hyperplastic and disorganized. Conclusion The lopsided expression of MMP3 and VEGF may be related with the retrogressive metamorphosis of the intervertebral disc and play an important role in intervertebral disc herniation.