Comparison of rabbit degenerative intervertebral disc models constructed by anulus puncture and annulus incision

[Objective]To construct the rabbit model of degenerative intervertebral disc by annulus puncture and annulus incision and then analyze its characteristics.[Methods]Twenty-four white rabbits were randomly divided into the 2 groups.In group A,intervertebral disc of L3、4,L4、5,L5、6 were injured by puncturing the anulus and suction nucleus pulposus 8~12 mg.In group B,intervertebral disc of L3、4,L4、5,L5、6 were injured by horizontal cutting the annulus with surgical knife blade.Pathological change of intervertebral disc was checked with MRI,histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry at 4,8,12 and 16 weeks after operation.[Results]In group A and B,the signal intensity of intervertebral disc in T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging decreased with time.The grade of T2 value in the anulus puncture group was lower than that of the annulus incision group(P0.05).The histological observation demonstrated that the cell content in nucleus pulposus had increased gradually after operation.The immunohistochemistry observation demonstrated that the collegen-Ⅱand aggrecan content in nucleus pulposus had increased gradually after operation.And the content of group B was significantly lower than of the group A.[Conclusion]The two methods both can establish rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration model,and the intervertebral disc degeneration model established by annulus incision appeared earlier and more violent than the method of anulus puncture.