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Wu T, Ni S, Cao Y, Liao S, Hu J, Duan C. Three-dimensional visualization and pathologic characteristics of cartilage and subchondral bone changes in the lumbar facet joint of an ovariectomized mouse model. Spine J 2018; 18:663-673. [PMID: 29155252 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Low back pain (LBP) is more prevalent among postmenopausal women than men. Ovariectomy (OVX) is an established animal model that mimics the estrogen deficiency of postmenopausal women. Little is known about the three-dimensional (3D) morphologic properties of cartilage and subchondral bone changes in the lumbar facet joint (LFJ) of an OVX mouse model. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to characterize the 3D morphologic change of cartilage and subchondral bone in the LFJ of an OVX mouse model. STUDY DESIGN Three-dimensional visualization and a histologic study on degenerative changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in the LFJ of an OVX mouse model were conducted. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ovariectomy is performed to mimic postmenopausal changes in adult female mice. We present an imaging tool for 3D visualization of the pathologic characteristics of cartilage and subchondral bone changes LFJ degradation using propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PPCT). The samples were further dissected, fixed, and stained for histologic examination. RESULTS Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography imaging provides a 3D visualization of altered cartilage with a simultaneous high detail of the subchondral bone abnormalities in an OVX LFJ model. A quantitative analysis demonstrated that the cartilage volume, the surface area, and thickness were decreased in the OVX group compared with the control group (p<.05). Meanwhile, these decreases were accompanied by an obvious destruction of the subchondral bone surface and a loss of trabecular bone in the OVX group (p<.05). The delineation of the 3D pathologic changes in the PPCT imaging was confirmed by a histopathologic method with Safranin-O staining. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining revealed an increased number of osteoclasts in the subchondral bone of the OVX mice compared with that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrated that a mouse model of OVX-induced LFJ osteoarthritis (OA)-like changes was successfully established and showed a good resemblance to the human OA pathology. Propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography has great potential to becomea powerful 3D imaging method to comprehensively characterize LFJ OA and to effectively monitor therapeutics. Moreover, degenerative LFJ possesses a severe morphologic change in the subchondral bone, may be the source of postmenopausal LBP, and has the potential to be a novel therapeutic target for LBP treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianding Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, 410008, China; The Key Laboratory of Organ Damage, Aging and Reproductive Medicine of Hunan Province, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shuangfei Ni
- Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, 410008, China; The Key Laboratory of Organ Damage, Aging and Reproductive Medicine of Hunan Province, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yong Cao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, 410008, China; The Key Laboratory of Organ Damage, Aging and Reproductive Medicine of Hunan Province, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shenghui Liao
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Lushan South Rd, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Jianzhong Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, 410008, China; The Key Laboratory of Organ Damage, Aging and Reproductive Medicine of Hunan Province, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chunyue Duan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, 410008, China; The Key Laboratory of Organ Damage, Aging and Reproductive Medicine of Hunan Province, Xiangya Rd No.87, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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