Influence Of Coblation Nucleoplasty On Il-1 Beta Expression And Phospholipase A2 Activity In A Degenerative Goat Model

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of coblation nucleoplasty (CN) on interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) expression and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, as well as the mechanisms whereby CN aids the treatment of discogenic low back pain. Twenty-one 6-month-old goats were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) and a study group (SG). An artificial degenerative model was established using an osteotome to penetrate the posterior paraspinal approach and injure the L4/5 disc. The success of this procedure was confirmed by X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as hematoxylin-eosin staining. Four goats in the SG were selected randomly for CN treatment and classified as the therapy group (TG). The remaining 13 SG goats were designated as the non-therapy group (NTG). Two goats each from the CG, TG, and NTG were sacrificed on the second and fourth weeks after CN treatment. The L4/5 intervertebral discs were investigated for IL-1 beta expression and PLA2 activity. PLA2 activity and IL-1 beta expression in the SG were significantly higher than those in the CG and significantly lower in the TG than in the NTG. PLA2 activity and IL-1 beta expression during the fourth week of CN treatment were significantly lower than those during the second week. CN treatment inhibited PLA2 activity and IL-1 beta expression in the goat lumbar intervertebral disc degenerative model. These data may reflect 2 possible mechanisms whereby CN treatment alleviates discogenic low back pain.