Experimental intervertebral disc degeneration models

Abstract

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major health problem of close concern to both young and old. The problem is also growing as the global population ages. Intervertebral disc degeneration is defined as progressive changes affecting the spine as a component of natural aging under the effect of multiple factors (such as smoking, obesity, and incorrect exercise). For a solution to be found, experimental disc degeneration must first be induced, the causes of the disease must be identified, and early diagnostic and therapeutic methods must then be developed. Method: Methods of inducing intervertebral disc degeneration with high applicability in rats were identified from the previous literature. This review discusses four methods of disc degeneration induction. It also discusses how to detect degeneration formation and development times. Conclusions: As a result of the literature review, information about four different and reliable intervertebral disc degeneration methods is presented.

Keywords

• Intervertebral disc
• degeneration
• animal models
• rat

References

1. 1. Cheung KM, Karppinen J, Chan D, Ho DW, Song YQ, Sham P, t al. Prevalence and pattern of lumbar magnetic resonance imaging changes in a population study of one thousand forty-three individuals. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2009; 34: 934- 940.
2. 2. Boos N, Weissbach S, Rohrbach H, Weiler C, Spratt KF, Nerlich AG. Classification of age-related changes in lumbar intervertebral discs: 2002 Volvo award in basic science. Spine, 2002; 27: 2631-2644.
3. 3. Kadow T, Sowa G, Vo N, Kang JD. Molecular basis of intervertebral disc degeneration and herniations: what are the important translational questions? Clin Orthop Relat Res., 2015; 473: 1903-1912.
4. 4. Navone SE, Marfia G, Giannoni A, Beretta M, Guarnaccia L, Gualtierotti R, et al. Inflammatory mediators and signaling pathways controlling intervertebral disc degeneration. Histol Histopathology, 2017; 32: 523-542. 5. Adams MA, Roughley PJ. What is intervertebral disc degeneration, and what causes it? Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2006; 31: 2151-2161.
5. 6. Peng B, Hao J, Hou S, Wu W, Jiang D, Fu X, et al. ‘‘Possible pathogenesis of painful intervertebral disc degeneration.’’ Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006; 31: 560-566.
6. 7. Luo X, Pietrobon R, Sun S, Liu G, Hey L. Estimates and patterns of direct health care expenditures among individuals with back pain in the United States. Spine, 2004; 29: 79-86.
7. 8. de Kunder SL, Rijkers K, Caelers I, de Bie RA, Koehler PJ, van Santbrink H. Lumbar interbody fusion: a historical overview and a future perspective. Spine vol. 2018; 16: 1161–1168.
8. 9. Alini M, Eisenstein SM, Ito K, Little C, Kettler AA, Masuda K, et al. Are animal models useful for studying human disc disorders/degeneration? Eur. Spine J., 2018; 17: 2–19

9. 10. O’Connell GD, Vresilovic EJ, Elliott DM. Comparison of animals used in disc research to human lumbar disc geometry. Spine, 2007; 32: 328–333.
10. 11. Beckstein JC, Sen S, Schaer TP, Vresilovic EJ, Elliott DM. Comparison of animal discs used in disc research to human lumbar disc: axial compression mechanics and glycosaminoglycan content. Spine vol. 2008; 33: 166–173. 12. Issy AC, Castania V, Castania M, Salmon CEG, Nogueira-Barbosa MH, Del Bel E, et al. Experimental model of intervertebral disc degeneration by needle puncture in Wistar rats. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 2013; 46: 235-244.
11. 13. Tian FM, Yang K, Wang WY, Luo Y, Li SY, Song HP, et al. Calcitonin suppresses intervertebral disk degeneration and preserves lumbar vertebral bone mineral density and bone strength in ovariectomized rats. Osteoporos Int. 2015; 26: 2853-2861.
12. 14. Nakayama E, Matsumoto T, Kazama T, Kano K, Tokuhashi Y. Transplantation of dedifferentipromotet cells promotes intervertebral disc regeneration in a rat intervertebral disc degeneration model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2017; 493: 1004-1009.
13. 15. Fernández-Susavila H, Pardo-Seco JP, Iglesias-Rey R, Sobrino T, Campos F, Díez-Ulloa MA. Model of disc degeneration in rat tail induced through vascular isolation of vertebral endplates. J Invest Surg., 2018; 31: 265-274.
14. 16. Wang T, Zhang L, Huang C, Cheng AG, Dang GT. Relationship between osteopenia and lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration in ovariectomized rats. Calcif Tissue Int., 2004; 75: 205-213.
15. 17. Yagi K, Kondo D, Okazaki Y, Kano K. A novel preadipocyte cell line established from mouse adult mature adipocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2004; 321: 967-974.
16. 18. Sugihara H, Yonemitsu N, Miyabara S, Yun K. Primary cultures of unilocular fat cells: characteristics of growth in vitro and changes in differentiation properties. Differentiation, 1986; 31: 42-49.
17. 19. Nishimura K, Mochida J. Percutaneous reinsertion of the nucleus pulposus. An experimental study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976),1998; 23: 1531-1538.