Effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on the intervertebral disc degeneration rats and the degenerative pulposus cells and its mechanism.

Objective: To explore the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) in vivo and in vitro and its mechanism. Methods: 60 rats were underwent surgery to construct rat models of IVDD and divided in the sham group, model group and gradient G-Rg1 groups (10 mg/kg/d, 20 mg/kg/d and 40 mg/kg/d). The change of histology was observed by HE staining, the water content and the expression of beta-catenin in IVD were detected. Rat nucleus pulposus cells(NPCs) were isolated from IVDD rats and divided in D-NPCs group, and gradient G-Rg1 groups(20 mu g/ml, 50 mu g/ml and 100 mu g/ml). The cell proliferation activity, cell apoptosis rate,the expression of proteins related to ECM and Wnt/beta-catenin were detected respectively, Finally the agonist of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway LiCl was used for reversed experiments. Results: In vivo, G-Rg1 treatment could improve the structural disorganization, low water content, NPCs number and aggrecan and collagen. expression in IVD and down-regulate the expression of beta-catenin. In vitro NPCs, G-Rg1 treatment could improve the low cell proliferation, high apoptosis rate and low expression of aggrecan and collagen. in degenerative NPCs in a dose-dependent manner. G-Rg1 treatment could down-regulate the expression of proteins related to beta-catenin signal and LiCl could reverse the increase of cell proliferation and ECM synthesis, decrease of apoptosis of degenerative NPCs induced by G-Rg1. Conclusion: G-Rg1 could promote ECM synthesis of degenerative NPCs and inhibiting its apoptosis, improve the IVDD via inhibiting the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.