Chemonucleolysis with collagenase. A radiographic and pathologic study in dogs.

PubMed ID: 1320789

Author(s): Miyabayashi T, Lord PF, Dubielzig RR, Biller DS, Manley PA. Chemonucleolysis with collagenase. A radiographic and pathologic study in dogs. Vet Surg. 1992 May-Jun;21(3):189-94. PMID 1320789

Journal: Veterinary Surgery : Vs, Volume 21, Issue 3, 1992

Collagenase, a proteolytic enzyme, was injected intradiscally in nine clinically normal, middle-aged beagles. Calcium chloride diluent solution (control), 100 ABC units of collagenase, and 250 ABC units of collagenase, were injected in randomly selected intervertebral discs (T13-L1 to L5-L6). On day 11, the discs injected with collagenase were narrowed radiographically, but there was no significant change in myelograms. Grossly and histologically, there was dissolution of the intervertebral discs, mainly nucleus pulposus, and protrusion of nucleus material in the vertebral body through bony end-plates in discs injected with collagenase. Collagenase chemonucleolysis may be an alternative to spinal surgery for intervertebral disc protrusion in dogs.