Empirical Study Of Rabbit Model Of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Induced By Needle Puncture In Anulus Fibrosus

Objective:Study the possibility of establishing a rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration reduced by puncturing the anulus fibrosus with needles . Immunohistochemical and histologic analyses of the discs were performed to reveal the decrease of nucleus pulposus cells and type II collagen. To reappearance the objective rule of intervertebral disc degeneration, and provide the animal models for the related studies.Material and Method : 24 New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized and put in right arm recumbent .Exposing the left of the spine, the L5/6 intervertebral disc were stabbed by 18-gauge hypodermic needles into a depth of 5mm in the left anterolateral anulus fibrosus . After the operation, 24 rabbits were distributed into 3 groups by random. At 3, 6, 10 weeks respectively after operation, the rabbits were executed. Immunohistochemical analyses and HE staining were performed with 24 L5/6 intervertebral disc (test group) and 8 L4/5 intervertebral disc (control group) to reveal the decrease of nucleus pulposus cells and type II collagen.Result:In the HE staining,plenty of nucleus pulposus cells were found in the intervertebral discs of the control group, and a progressive of decrease of nucleus pulposus cells which start at 3 weeks after stabbing and last for 6 weeks.Chondrocyte cells and few nucleus pulposus cells in the intervertebral discs which start at 10 weeks after stabbing.In the Immunohistochemical experiment , the staining gray scale of the control group and the test groups were 144.83±1.56 , 147.04±2.86 ,149.53±1.38,152.93±3.96. Statistical analysis revealed that, no statistical significance(P>0.01)between 3 weeks and 6 weeks test group, and the comparison between any other two groups had statistical significance (P<0.01).Conclusion:The stabbing approach results in a slowly progressive intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbit mode1, it could reappearance the objective rule of intervertebral disc degeneration, and provide the animal models for the related studies.