A scoliosis model of bipedal female mouse induced by high-concentration osteopontin

Tang Feng; Xie Ning; Wu Tao; Liu Jun; Wang Bin-bin; Wang Yang; Xu Li-zhang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.49.001

Abstract：BACKGROUND:In recent years, the relevant research confirmed that increased levels of osteopontin may lead to the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The establishment of appropriate animal models of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is of great significance in the research and treatment of such diseases. <br> OBJECTIVE:To observe the occurrence of scoliosis of the bipedal female mice induced by high concentration of osteopontin, and provide evidence for establishing ideal drug models of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. <br> METHODS:C3H/HeJ mice of the same age were selected and randomly assigned to high-concentration osteopontin female mice (n=20) and male mice (n=20). This study also set control male mice group (n=20) and control female mice group (n=20). Mice aged 3 weeks from four groups were subjected to upper limb amputation and rat tail resection to establish bipedal mouse models. After surgery, a special cage was used to induce the upright state. High-concentration osteopontin female mice and male mice were daily intraperitoneal y injected with high-concentration osteopontin (40μg/kg). Mice in the control group were intraperitoneal y injected with physiological saline. At 3 months after induction, animal spine X-ray examination was conducted to measure Cobb angle. If Cobb angle was greater than 10°, a successful induction was set. The incidence and severity of scoliosis were evaluated. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In the high-concentration osteopontin female mice group, scoliosis was observed in 18 mice. Cobb angle was 16°-38°, averagely (25.8±6.7)°. In the high-concentration osteopontin male mice group, scoliosis was observed in 16 mice. Cobb angle was 11°-34°, averagely (20.9±6.8)°. In the control male mice group, scoliosis was observed in 8 mice. Cobb angle was 12°-21°, averagely (15.6±3.1)°. In the control female mice group, scoliosis was observed in 9 mice. Cobb angle was 11°-24°, averagely (17.1±4.5)°. (2) The incidence of scoliosis was significantly higher in the high-concentration osteopontin female and male mice groups than in the control female and male mice groups (P<0.05). No significant difference in the incidence of scoliosis was detected between high-concentration osteopontin female and male mice groups (P>0.05). However, curve magnitude was significantly severer in the high-concentration osteopontin female mice group than in the high-concentration osteopontin male mice group (P<0.05). (3) Results suggested that the scoliosis incidence was higher and scoliosis was severer in high-concentration osteopontin-induced bipedal mice, which was more closed to human.