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. 2021 May 17:2021:5510124.
doi: 10.1155/2021/5510124. eCollection 2021.

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Induced by Needle Puncture and Ovariectomy: A Rat Coccygeal Model

Affiliations

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Induced by Needle Puncture and Ovariectomy: A Rat Coccygeal Model

Tao Tian et al. Biomed Res Int. .

Abstract

Objectives: To establish a novel animal model of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) in rats and to investigate the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) intervention in this model.

Methods: This study was divided into two parts: animal model (four groups: Sham, ovariectomy (OVX), Puncture, and OVX+Puncture; three-time points: 4, 8, and 12 weeks; three female rats/group/time point) and drug intervention (Sham, OVX+Puncture+corn oil, and OVX+Puncture+E2; three female rats/group). The rats were analyzed by micromagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and safranin-O staining.

Results: MRI and histological scores significantly differed among the four groups at the three-time points (all P < 0.05). IVDD progressed with time in the OVX, Puncture, and OVX+Puncture groups (all P < 0.05). The changes were the most obvious in the OVX+Puncture group. In the E2 intervention part, the Veh group had the worst MRI signals and histological scores (P < 0.05). The MRI scores in the E2 group were less obvious compared to the Sham group (P > 0.05). Also, the histological scores were significantly different between the Sham and E2 groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The combination of ovariectomy and needle puncture can synergically induce IVDD in rat coccygeal discs. Estrogen treatment can effectively ameliorate IVDD progression in the newly established IVDD models.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Representative micromagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of animals in the four groups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. (b) MRI scores at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. P < 0.05.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and safranin staining of discs in the four groups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. (b) HE scores at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. P < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) After successful modeling, the Sham, Veh, and E2 groups underwent micromagnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (b) MRI scores P < 0.05.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and safranin staining of discs in the three groups. (b) HE scores. P < 0.05.

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