Experimental model of intervertebral disc degeneration by needle puncture in Wistar rats.
Braz J Med Biol Res 2013;
46:235-44. [PMID:
23532265 PMCID:
PMC3854370 DOI:
10.1590/1414-431x20122429]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration play an important role in
clarifying the physiopathological mechanisms and testing novel therapeutic
strategies. The objective of the present study is to describe a simple animal
model of disc degeneration involving Wistar rats to be used for research
studies. Disc degeneration was confirmed and classified by radiography, magnetic
resonance and histological evaluation. Adult male Wistar rats were anesthetized
and submitted to percutaneous disc puncture with a 20-gauge needle on levels 6-7
and 8-9 of the coccygeal vertebrae. The needle was inserted into the discs
guided by fluoroscopy and its tip was positioned crossing the nucleus pulposus
up to the contralateral annulus fibrosus, rotated 360° twice, and held for 30 s.
To grade the severity of intervertebral disc degeneration, we measured the
intervertebral disc height from radiographic images 7 and 30 days after the
injury, and the signal intensity T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
Histological analysis was performed with hematoxylin-eosin and collagen fiber
orientation using picrosirius red staining and polarized light microscopy.
Imaging and histological score analyses revealed significant disc degeneration
both 7 and 30 days after the lesion, without deaths or systemic complications.
Interobserver histological evaluation showed significant agreement. There was a
significant positive correlation between histological score and intervertebral
disc height 7 and 30 days after the lesion. We conclude that the tail disc
puncture method using Wistar rats is a simple, cost-effective and reproducible
model for inducing disc degeneration.
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