[Electroacupuncture down-regulates expression of ADAMTS-4 of intervertebral disc in rats with lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on the levels of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS-4) protein in the lumbar intervertebral disc tissue and serum in prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (PLIDD) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

Methods: A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operation (＝12), model (＝18) and EA (＝18) groups. The PLIDD model was established by puncturing the lumbar discs (L4-L5, L5-L6) with a gauge-22 syringe needle.