Preventive and regenerative responses to 1- isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl) butane in annular puncture – induced model of rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration

This study aimed at investigating the preventive and rejuvenating capacity of 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl) butanein annular punctured intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbit model.Twentyfive New Zealand white rabbits (1.5 to 3.0 kg each) underwent annular puncture.Group 1 received 50 mg/kg of phosphate-buffered saline orally for 8 weeks (non-punctured group); group 2 received 50 mg/kg phosphate-buffered salinesolution immediately after puncture for 8 weeks (model saline group I); group 3 received 50 mg/kg phosphate-buffered salinesolution after 8 weeks of puncture for another 8 weeks (model saline group II); group 4 received the oral  administration of 450 mg/kg of 1-isothiocyanato-4- (methylsulfinyl) Butane solution immediately after puncture for 8 weeks; group 5 received the oral administration of 450 mg/kg of 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl) Butane solution after 8 weeks of puncture for another 8 weeks.Serial X-rays were performed at 0, 8 and 16weeks for the disc height. Upon sacrifice, the whole spinal column and discs were extracted and analyzed for various histological staining techniques (H&E and HVG), biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis. There wasdecreased in disc height in the X- ray and was significantly prevented and regenerated after the administration of 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl) Butane solution. The histological grade, collagen type 1 and 2, aggrecan, and matrix metalloprotease-13 mRNA expression and histological analysiswere definitive in the degeneration processes thereby affirming the X-ray data. This study therefore ascertain that 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl) Butane had anabolic effects on degenerated disc and could provide valuable information for consideration in clinical trials.Keywords: Low back pain, intervertebral disc degeneration, 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl) Butane,histology.