Study on salvianolic acid B in the reduction of epidural fibrosis in laminectomy rats

BACKGROUND: Epidural fibrosis (EF) is a common complication after laminectomy. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a major bioactive component of a traditional Chinese medical agent, Salvia miltiorrhiza, which has shown anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-proliferative properties. The object of this study was to investigate the effect of Sal B on the prevention of epidural fibrosis in laminectomy rats. METHODS: A controlled double-blinded study was conducted in sixty healthy adult Wistar rats that underwent laminectomy at the L1-L2 levels. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 20: (1) Sal B treatment group; (2) Vehicle group; (3) Sham group (laminectomy without treatment). All rats were sacrificed 4 weeks post-operatively. The extent of epidural fibrosis, fibroblast proliferation and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The recovery of all rats was uneventful. In the laminectomy sites treated with Sal B, the dura mater showed no adhesion. Collagen deposition was significantly lower in the Sal B group than the other two groups. In addition, both fibroblast and inflammatory cell counting in the laminectomy sites treated with Sal B showed better grades than the other two groups. The expression of VEGF and inflammatory factors in operative sites also suggested better results in the Sal B group than the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sal B inhibits fibroblast proliferation, blood vessel regeneration, and inflammatory factor expression. Thus, Sal B is able to prevent epidural scar adhesion in post-laminectomy rats. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-337) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.