Model of experimental cervical spondylosis established by repeated +Gz exposure in rabbits

    CHEN Liª²Jun, WANG Yongª²Chun, SUN Xiª²Qing, SUN Huiª²Pin, CAO Xinª²Sheng

    1PLA Research Center of TCM Manipulative Orthopedics, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing 100036, China, 2Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, School of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, Chin

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To establish a scientific and economical degenerative animal model for the study of intervertebral disc. METHODS: Fifteen rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: control group, +6Gz/1 d group, +6Gz/2 wk group, +6Gz/4 wk group and +6Gz/6 wk group. The rabbits in the experiment group were exposed +6Gz/45s (5 times every day) for 1d, 2 wk, 4 wk and 6wk. Lateral cervical radiographies of each rabbit were studied with selfª²control method. Pathological changes of the cervical vertebrae were observed by light microscope after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS: ¢Ù As compared with control, the Xª²ray film revealed that there were no cervical vertebra changes in the rabbits of 1 d and 2 wk groups, while the intervertebral discs of rabbits in 4 wk and 6 wk groups had significant degenerative changes (P<0.01). ¢Ú Histological results showed that the fibrous ring of intervertebral disc in all model groups had some fissure and irregular arrangement. In 6 wk group, nucleus pulposus shrank or became smaller and cartilage cells were observed. CONCLUSION: The rabbit cervical intervertebral disc degerenation model established by repeated +Gz exposure can be used in the study of cervical spondylosis. ......