Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich saline for lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration(LIVDD)in rabbits by intraperitoneal injection. Methods A total of 36 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group, model control group and model experimental group, with 12 rabbits in each group. The lumbar discs of all rabbits were revealed from the right posterior lateral muscle gap. No further procedures were performed in the normal control group. Models of LIVDD induced by puncture and aspiration were established in the other 2 groups. Rabbits in the model experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with 8 mL/kg hydrogen-rich saline, once every 3 days. Equivalent saline was injected in rabbits of the model control group in the same way, while no treatment was done to the normal control group. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks. X-ray and histopathological examinations were conducted at the 4th and 8th week respectively after treatment. The contents of tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α), interleukin-1(IL-1)and matrix metalloproteinases-3(MMP-3)in the intervertebral disc tissue were detected with ELISA method. Results Significant improvements in imaging and histopathological data were found in the model experimental group after 4 or 8 weeks of hydrogen-rich saline treatment. The contents of TNF-α, IL-1 and MMP-3 in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the model control group(P<0.001), but higher than those in the normal control group(P<0.001). The contents of inflammatory mediators over time had statistical difference in the model control group(P<0.001). Conclusion The intraperitoneal injection of hydrogen-rich saline in the treatment of LIVDD in rabbits plays a certain periodic positive role.

Key words: Interleukin-1, Matrix metalloproteinases-3, Hydrogen-rich saline, Tumor necrosis factor, Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration, Rabbit