Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Compression-induced changes in intervertebral disc properties in a rat tail model.

J C Iatridis1, P L Mente, I A Stokes

  • 1Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Vermont, Burlington. iatridis@med.uvm.edu

Spine
|May 20, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Chronic compression and immobilization alter rat tail intervertebral disc mechanics and composition. These findings in a controlled model offer insights into degenerative disc disease mechanisms.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Differential proteomics profile of microcapillary networks in response to sound pattern-driven local cell density enhancement.

Biomaterials and biosystems·2024
Same author

Osteochondral explants for diarthrodial joint diseases: bridging the gap between bench and bedside.

European cells & materials·2022
Same author

Evaluation of the influence of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet lysate (PL) and mechanical loading on chondrogenesis in vitro.

Scientific reports·2021
Same author

Does the neutral zone quantification method matter? Efficacy of evaluating neutral zone during destabilization and restabilization in human spine implant testing.

Journal of biomechanics·2021
Same author

Sodium hyaluronate supplemented culture medium combined with joint-simulating mechanical loading improves chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

European cells & materials·2021
Same author

Prenatal muscle forces are necessary for vertebral segmentation and disc structure, but not for notochord involution in mice.

European cells & materials·2021

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanical Engineering
  • Spinal Research
  • Animal Models

Background:

  • Mechanical factors are implicated in degenerative disc disease and low back pain.
  • Controlled studies isolating the effects of compressive forces on intervertebral discs are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of chronic compression and immobilization on rat tail intervertebral discs.
  • To test the hypothesis that these mechanical forces alter disc biomechanical behavior and biochemical composition.

Main Methods:

  • An Ilizarov-type apparatus was used on rat tails to apply sham intervention, immobilization, or chronic compression.
  • In vivo biomechanical measurements (thickness, laxity, compliance) were taken over 56 days.
  • Discs were analyzed for water, proteoglycan, and collagen content.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Immobilization decreased disc thickness, axial compliance, and angular laxity.
  • Chronic compression yielded similar but earlier and more pronounced changes than immobilization.
  • Compression increased intervertebral disc proteoglycan content.

Conclusions:

  • This model effectively isolates the influence of loading conditions on intervertebral disc response.
  • Chronic compression, without disease, modifies tail disc mechanical properties and composition.
  • Observed changes share similarities and differences with human spinal disc degeneration.