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A Mouse Model of Lumbar Spine Instability
Published on: April 23, 2021
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A Mouse Model of Lumbar Spine Instability
Shufen Liu1, Yueli Sun1, Jingcheng Dong2
1Spine Research Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|May 10, 2021
Summary
A new mouse model of surgically induced lumbar spine instability (LSI) effectively mimics intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). This reproducible model aids in studying low back pain and testing new treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Animal modeling
Background:
- Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a primary cause of low back pain.
- Developing effective animal models is crucial for understanding IDD pathogenesis and therapeutic evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize a novel surgically induced lumbar spine instability (LSI) mouse model for studying IDD.
- To assess the timeline and pathological features of IDD in the LSI model.
Main Methods:
- Surgical induction of lumbar spine instability (LSI) in mice.
- Observation and characterization of intervertebral disc (IVD) changes at L4-L5 post-operation.
- Assessment of endplate, nucleus pulposus, and vertebral bone changes.
Main Results:
- The LSI model demonstrated IDD development starting one week post-operation.
- Pathological changes included endplate porosity/hypertrophy, decreased disc volume, nucleus pulposus shrinkage, and L5 bone loss.
- The model is reproducible, cost-effective, and requires no specialized equipment.
Conclusions:
- The surgically induced lumbar spine instability (LSI) mouse model is a viable and practical tool for studying lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).
- This model allows for the investigation of early-stage IDD and the evaluation of potential therapeutic interventions.
