Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (26): 3843-3848.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.26.007

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of simulated weightlessness on biomechanics of motion unit of rhesus monkey lumbar vertebra

Wang Xiao-ping1, Lu Ming1, Ma Pei2, Chen Zhi-ming1, Yuan Wei1, Zhao Fu-jiang1, Zhao Hao1,Ren Dong-yun1, Ma Hua-song1, Wu Zhi-hong2   

  1. 1Department of Orthopedics, the 306th Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100101, China; 2Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
  • Revised:2016-04-23 Online:2016-06-24 Published:2016-06-24
  • Contact: Ma Hua-song, M.D., Chief physician, Professor, Department of Orthopedics, the 306th Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100101, China
  • About author:Wang Xiao-ping, Associate chief physician, Department of Orthopedics, the 306th Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100101, China Lu Ming, Department of Orthopedics, the 306th Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100101, China Wang Xiao-ping and Lu Ming contributed equally to this paper.

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: It is generally believed that the spine will be extended, and vertebral muscle atrophy, bone loss of vertebral body, increased height and area of intervertebral disc, changes of composition of intervertebral disc will occur in the condition of weightlessness. These are likely to be the cause of high incidence of low back pain.

OBJECTIVE: To observe changes in lumbar spine bone microstructure analysis of simulated weightlessness on rhesus lumbar spine biomechanics.
METHODS: Fourteen young rhesus monkeys were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n=7; free activities in the cage during the experiment), and experimental group (n=7; the use of head-down-10° on a special bed by bundle lying to simulate weightlessness).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The results of Micro-CT examination: in the experimental group, structure model index in trabecular bone of increased. Trabecular bone changed from plate-like to the rod-like change. The intersection number of bone tissue in unit length to non-bone tissue declined. The average width of the canal between the trabecular bone increased, suggesting that there have been signs of osteoporosis in the experimental group. (2) Under an optical microscope, in the experimental group, bone hyperplasia line was disordered and irregular. Thick endplate trabecular bone became small, shallow, and arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of trabecular bone and cartilage endplate. The closer the endplate surface, the smaller trabecular bone was. Compared with the control group, these small trabecular bones were thin and curved. Bone marrow cavity was oval. The degree of the connection between the trabecular bones is poor, reflecting the structural characteristics of significant osteoporosis. (3) It is indicated that weightlessness affected the biomechanical properties of rhesus lumbar motion unit. 

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程

Key words: Macaca mulatta, Intervertebral Disk, Weightlessness, Tissue Engineering

CLC Number: