Comparisons Between Needle Puncture and Chondroitinase ABC to Induce Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Rabbits.

PURPOSE:This study aimed to compare the effect of needle puncture and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) injection on inducing intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) in rabbits.METHODS:Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. Briefly, the rabbits were divided into four groups. In the annulus fibrosis (AF) needle puncture group, a 16-G needle was used to puncture the L5-6 and L6-7 IVDs, while in the sham group, these IVDs were not punctured. In the ChABC group, 30 μL 0.5 Unit/mL ChABC was injected into L5-6 and L6-7 IVDs using a 26-G needle, while in the vehicle group, these IVDs were injected with 30 μL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). X-ray and MRI scans were performed at the 4th, 12th and 16th weeks postoperatively. Histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses were performed at the 16th week postoperatively.RESULTS:Both needle puncture and ChABC successfully established IVDD in rabbits at 4th, 12th and 16th weeks, confirmed by X-ray and MRI scan. The progression of IVDD went in a time-dependent manner. The IVDD in the ChABC group was less severe than in the needle puncture group throughout the study. Aggrecan and type II collagen significantly decreased, while tumor necrosis factor-α and superoxide dismutase 2 increased in the needle puncture and ChABC groups, compared with the sham and PBS groups.CONCLUSIONS:Both AF needle puncture and ChABC injection can successfully induce IVDD in rabbits. Compared with ChABC injection, AF needle puncture can induce more severe IVDD.