Article

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degenerates progressively with age and
after injuries. In this study, we aimed to characterize early molecular events
underlying disc degeneration using a mouse tail IVD injury model. DESIGN: We have
established a transcutaneous minimally invasive approach to induce mouse tail IVD
injury under fluoroscopic guidance. Morphological and molecular changes in the
injured IVDs are compared with the baseline features of adjacent intact levels.
RESULTS: After needle puncture, tail IVDs exhibited time-dependent histological
changes. The aggrecan neoepitope VDIPEN was evident from 2 days to 4 wks after
injury. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 8 (adam8)
is a surface protease known to cleave fibronectin in the IVD. Gene expression of
adam8 was elevated at all time points after injury, whereas the increase of C-X-C
motif chemokine ligand (cxcl)-1 gene expression was statistically significant at
2 days and 2 wks after injury. Type 1 collagen gene expression decreased
initially at day 2 but increased at 2 wks after injury, whereas no significant
change in type 2 collagen gene expression was observed.
The extracellular matrix
gene expression pattern is consistent with fibrocartilage formation after injury.
CONCLUSIONS: Mouse tail IVDs degenerate after needle puncture, as demonstrated by
histological changes and aggrecan degradation. The minimally invasive tail IVD
injury model should prove useful to investigators studying mechanisms of IVD
degeneration and repair.
- Animal

Langue : ANGLAIS