A mouse coccygeal intervertebral disc degeneration model with tail-looping constructed using a suturing method

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Orthopedics
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a prevalent degenerative condition.
• Ethical limitations in human research necessitate animal models for IDD studies.
• Understanding IDD pathogenesis and treatment requires robust experimental models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and validate a novel surgical model of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) in mice.
• To assess the efficacy of a new surgical technique for inducing IDD.
• To provide a reliable animal model for future IDD research.

Main Methods:

• A surgical technique involving tail flexion and suturing was employed to create a coccygeal IDD model in 30 mice.
• Microcomputed tomography (μCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to assess disc height and signal intensity.
• Histological analyses included Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE), Safranin O-Fast Green, and immunohistochemical staining for tissue morphology and extracellular matrix evaluation.

Main Results:

• The surgical procedure was successful in inducing IDD in the mouse coccygeal spine.
• The model demonstrated no significant post-operative complications.
• Varying degrees of IDD severity could be achieved by adjusting the bending angle, indicating model controllability.

Conclusions:

• The developed surgical method provides an effective and reproducible animal model for studying intervertebral disc degeneration.
• This model facilitates research into the etiology and potential therapeutic strategies for degenerative disc disease.