Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Animal models can be used to study specific scientific problems of intervertebral disc biology. Model of disc degeneration is mainly used to resolve the relevant disease mechanisms and scientific and security issues of the treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize currently used experimental animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration study, and to dynamically observe and confirm the pathological process of disc degeneration based on disc imaging, morphology, biomechanics and biochemical changes.
METHODS: Using “intervertebral disc degeneration, animal models, in vivo, in vitro” in English as the search words, Cochrane Library (No. 1 2009), Cochrane Library Database of Controlled Clinical Trials (No. 1 2009), MEDLINE from 1990 to March 2009, EMbase from 1990 to March 2009, Current Controlled Trials, and the National Research Register were retrieved. Literature was limited to English language. The disc imaging, morphology, biomechanical and biochemical composition and other indicators, as well as the pathological process of disc degeneration served as the evaluation indices. The articles related to the intervertebral disc cell culture models, the whole disc tissue culture model, mechanical model, injury model, biological model, genetically modified models, spontaneous models were included. The repetitive researches and those unrelated to animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration were excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The establishment of a reliable animal model can provide favorable conditions for studying the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration, at the same time, provides a good experimental vehicle for various researches about the repair treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration can be divided into two categories: in vitro models and in vivo models of disc degeneration and repair. The former can be assigned into disc cell culture models and whole disc tissue culture model; the latter is assigned into mechanical models, injury models, biological models, genetically modified models, spontaneous models and so on. The above models are commonly used in the study of the occurring mechanism of disc degeneration, as well as the feasibility and effectiveness of a variety of treatments. However, there is still no generally accepted animal models as an ideal disc degeneration model, various types of models reported have their own advantages and disadvantages.