Effects Of Ozone With Different Concentrations On Intervertebral Disc And Intravertebral Tissues In Rabbits

Objective: To explore the effects and safety of ozone with different concentrations on intervertebral disc of rabbits, and observe their effects on intravertebral tissues when ozone were injected into epidural cavity.Methods: Group A : 30 New Zealand white rabbits, 1ml ozone of 10μg /ml,30μg /ml, 50μg /ml, 80μg /ml were respectively injected into L_3-4 L₄₅,L₅₆,L_6-7 intervertebral disc while L_2-3 as a control. 10 of the rabbits were sacrificed respectively at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months after ozone-injection, then the nucleus pulpous and annular fibrosus were collected for macroscopical and microscopical observation.Group B : 30 New Zealand white rabbits were subdivided into three subsets with 10 in every subset, and 2ml O₂ , ozone of 30μg /ml, 50μg /ml were respectively injected into epidural cavity. 5 of the rabbits in every subset were sacrificed respectively at 1 week, 1 month after ozone-injection ,then spinal cord , nerve root and meninx fibrosa were collected for macroscopical and microscopical observation, and lipofuscin,malondialdehyd content of the samples were tested.Results:There were no significant differences in BP, HR, SPO₂ before and after surgery, and no obvious abnormality in behaviors after surgery. Results of Group A showed that there were no distinct effects of 10μg /ml ozone on nucleus pulposus, while ozone of 30μg /ml could result in notable effects—nucleus pulposus degenerated, the amount of cells in nucleus pulposus decreased , and nucleolus died and dissolved. Nucleus pulposus atrophied and became fragile after ozone-injection .The effects of 50μg /ml ozone were more stronger than those of 30μg /ml on nucleus pulposus, but 50μg /ml ozone could also produce mild effects on annular fibrosus. The effects of 80μg /ml ozone were very significant, and there were obvious necrosis in nucleus pulposus and annular fibrosus. No pathological changes of spinal cord , nerve root and meninx fibrosa were seen in Group B.There were no significant difference of lipofuscin,malondialdehyd in spinal cord , nerve root and meninx fibrosa among the subsets of group BConclusion: Ozone of 10μg/ml can not exert it's effects in treating lumbar disc herniation.Ozone of 30μg/ml maybe a reasonable selection in treating lumbar disc herniation, and the curative effect should be evaluated 2 months after ozone-injection. The toxicity of 50μg/ml, 80μg/ml ozone is obvious. It is safe to inject ozone of 30μg/ml, 50μg/ml into epidural cavity.