Model of Lumbar Intervertebral Discs Degeneration

LI Xiao-sheng; CHEN Tie-zhu; ZENG Yan

Abstract：Objective To establish a model of rabbit lumbar disc herniation. Methods In the experimental group,0. 2 mL 0. 9% saline were slowly injected into L4 ~ 5 intervertebral disc. We observe lumbar disc degeneration from anatomic form, X-ray,Histology. Results This method stiffened the lumbar disc texture,induced osteophyte periphery to the discs,narrowed the lumbar disc space,dispersed the annulus fibers and made nucleus pulposus vanished. Observation after 2 to 8 weeks:Ana-tomic exam showed the injected lumbar disc texture gradually stiffened,the lumbar disc protruded into the spinal canal,and the spinal nerve roots bonded,difficult to be separated. There was osteophyte formed around the periphery of the disc. X-ray showed that the lumbar gap gradually narrowed,formed the osteophyte,and the foramen waned. Histology showed the annulus gradually became thinner,and part of the regional fiber layers arranged scattered,the Nucleus vanish and have been taken place by oste-oid tissue and bone. Conclusion The lumbar disc degeneration model can be established by 0. 9% injecting saline into lum-bar disc of rabbit.