Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (30): 5618-5621.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.30.026

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Substance P expression in lumbar facet joint capsule in degenerative lumbar disease patients

Zuo Jin-bu1, Li Jia-mou2, Zhang Chun-bo1, Lin Xin2   

  1. 1 Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Corps Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, Beijing  100027, China; 2 Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing  100050, China
  • Online:2010-07-23 Published:2010-07-23
  • Contact: Li Jia-mou, Doctor, Associate chief physician, Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China lijiamou@hotmail.com
  • About author:Zuo Jin-bu★, Master, Associate chief physician, Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Corps Hospital, of Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, Beijing 100027, China zjbjinbu@sina.com

PDF

497

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous animal or corpse-based studies show that substance P is increased in degenerative lumbar facet joint bone below cartilage and calcified cartilage nerve fiber in lumbar facet joint-derived low back pain.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the substance P expression changes in facet joint capsule in patients with degenerative lumbar disease.
METHODS: A total of 18 cases were selected by diagnostic block before operation in degenerative lumbar disease. The test group experienced resection of facet joint capsule, and the control group had no low back pain before fracture. Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the SP immunoreactive fibers in the degenerative facet joints capsule.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the test group, substance P immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in 15 cases, and 3 cases had no positive reaction. Substance P immunoreactive nerve fibers distributed in joint capsule and subchondral bone area, and most of them were located in facet capsule. The fibers were also detected in plical tissue of the capsule. They were not all associated with large blood vessels, but some of them ran freely in the stroma. In addition, a few substance P immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in 5 cases of the control group, and 13 cases were negative. The degenerative change of facet joint capsule is one of the important causes of chronic low back pain. The observation provides morphological basis for low back pain, implying that the substance P immunoreactive fibers might involve in facet degeneration and might be an important source of the lower back pain.

CLC Number: