Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.22.6 (chymopapain)
 407 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Changes on facet joint articular cartilage biology after chymopapain-induced disc height loss were determined in adult mongrel dogs. Disc height decreased to 50% at 2 weeks and returned to 80% at 6 months. The biochemistry and histology of the involved-level facet joints were followed at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after the injection. X-ray study showed a narrowing of the joint space and overlap of the facet joints at 6 weeks and at 3 months. Some return toward normal appearance was noted at 6 months. There was a loss of Safranin-O stain at 6 weeks, which persisted at 3 months, although some cells showed increased Safranin-O staining in the surrounding matrix. This was further improved at 6 months. The water content was unchanged early, but had decreased significantly at 6 weeks. The hexuronic acid content, already dropping at 2 weeks, was significantly lower at 6 weeks, at 3 months, and at 6 months. However, by 6 months, it had increased, compared with the 3-month value. Synthesis of proteoglycan was depressed only at 6 weeks. Similar changes were found in the facet cartilage in the joints above and below the last injected disc level. Results of this study would suggest that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between disc pathology and facet pathology and this can affect adjacent disc facet-joint biology. The initial facet lesion described appears to be potentially reversible, but a long-term disc height decrease might be expected to cause irreversible osteoarthritic-like changes in the adjacent facet joint.
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PMID:Facet joint changes after chemonucleolysis-induced disc space narrowing. 295 Jun

To investigate the histopathological changes of the intervertebral disc after chemonucleolysis, experiments were performed on 21 monkeys. After the injection of chymopapain, animals were sacrificed at definite intervals up to 1 year. Histopathological studies on these specimens revealed disappearance of proteoglycan from the nucleus pulposus, inner annulus fibrosus and cartilaginous endplates as early as 1 day after injection. At 4 weeks, regeneration of proteoglycan was indicated by the recovery of positive Safranin-O (S-O) staining in the area of the nucleus pulposus. After 24 weeks, the entire intervertebral disc showed uniform S-O staining indicating further regeneration of proteoglycan. The matrix of the reformed nucleus pulposus contained increased amount of fibrous elements compared to the controls. These results indicate proteoglycan regeneration by chondrocytes after chemonucleolysis. The reformed nucleus was histopathologically different from the control.
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PMID:Chemonucleolysis--an experimental histopathological study. 313 15