Effects of electroacupuncture on a degenerated intervertebral disc using an in-vivo rat-tail model

2008 ◽  
Vol 222 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Lai ◽  
D H K Chow ◽  
W-S Siu ◽  
A D Holmes ◽  
F-H Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Disc Height ◽  
Static Compression ◽  
Intervertebral Disc Height ◽  
Rat Tail Model ◽  
Rat Tail

Electroacupuncture (EA) has long been used as conservative treatment for low back pain (LBP). Its effect on relief of back pain has been demonstrated in many clinical studies. However, whether it has any effect on the biological properties of an intervertebral disc, which is one of the major causes of LBP, is still unclear. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the effects of EA with different simulation frequencies on an intervertebral disc with simulated degeneration using an in-vivo rat-tail model. In this study, 33 rats were used. Disc degeneration was simulated in the rat caudal 8—9 disc via continuous static compressive loading of 11 N for 2 weeks. EA with a frequency of 2 or 100 Hz was then applied to the degenerated disc for 3 weeks with 3 sessions/week and 20 min/session. The intervertebral disc height was measured before and after compression as well as after EA intervention for 3 weeks. The static compression was found to result in a reduction in the disc height of about 22 per cent. There was no evidence that this change could be reversed after resting or the EA intervention. However, EA at 100 Hz was found to induce a further decrease in disc height, which was not shown for the rats after resting or EA at 2 Hz. The results of this study showed that effects of EA on disc degeneration are frequency dependent and adverse effects could result if EA at a certain frequency was used.

Reliability of radiographic intervertebral disc height measurement for in vivo rat-tail model

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 814-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alon Lai ◽  
Daniel H.K. Chow ◽  
W.S. Siu ◽  
Andrew D. Holmes ◽  
F.H. Tang
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Disc Height ◽  
Height Measurement ◽  
Intervertebral Disc Height ◽  
Rat Tail Model ◽  
Rat Tail

scholarly journals Involvement of Autophagy in Rat Tail Static Compression-Induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Notochordal Cell Disappearance

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5648
Author(s):  
Takashi Yurube ◽  
Hiroaki Hirata ◽  
Masaaki Ito ◽  
Yoshiki Terashima ◽  
Yuji Kakiuchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Time Course ◽  
The Body ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Autophagic Flux ◽  
Static Compression ◽  
Notochordal Cell ◽  
Notochordal Cells ◽  
Rat Tail

The intervertebral disc is the largest avascular low-nutrient organ in the body. Thus, resident cells may utilize autophagy, a stress-response survival mechanism, by self-digesting and recycling damaged components. Our objective was to elucidate the involvement of autophagy in rat experimental disc degeneration. In vitro, the comparison between human and rat disc nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) cells found increased autophagic flux under serum deprivation rather in humans than in rats and in NP cells than in AF cells of rats (n = 6). In vivo, time-course Western blotting showed more distinct basal autophagy in rat tail disc NP tissues than in AF tissues; however, both decreased under sustained static compression (n = 24). Then, immunohistochemistry displayed abundant autophagy-related protein expression in large vacuolated disc NP notochordal cells of sham rats. Under temporary static compression (n = 18), multi-color immunofluorescence further identified rapidly decreased brachyury-positive notochordal cells with robust expression of autophagic microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and transiently increased brachyury-negative non-notochordal cells with weaker LC3 expression. Notably, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive apoptotic death was predominant in brachyury-negative non-notochordal cells. Based on the observed notochordal cell autophagy impairment and non-notochordal cell apoptosis induction under unphysiological mechanical loading, further investigation is warranted to clarify possible autophagy-induced protection against notochordal cell disappearance, the earliest sign of disc degeneration, through limiting apoptosis.

scholarly journals Platelet-Derived Biomaterials Exert Chondroprotective and Chondroregenerative Effects on Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Wen-Cheng Lo ◽  
Chun-Chao Chang ◽  
Chun-Hao Chan ◽  
Abhinay Kumar Singh ◽  
Yue-Hua Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Disc Height ◽  
Therapeutic Effects

Complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) range from acute to chronic conditions, leading to multiorgan disorders such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. However, little is known about the influence of DM on intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Moreover, traditional surgical outcomes in DM patients have been found poor, and to date, no definitive alternative treatment exists for DM-induced IVDD. Recently, among various novel approaches in regenerative medicine, the concentrated platelet-derived biomaterials (PDB), which is comprised of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), etc., have been reported as safe, biocompatible, and efficacious alternatives for various disorders. Therefore, we initially investigated the correlations between DM and IVDD, through establishing in vitro and in vivo DM models, and further evaluated the therapeutic effects of PDB in this comorbid pathology. In vitro model was established by culturing immortalized human nucleus pulposus cells (ihNPs) in high-glucose medium, whereas in vivo DM model was developed by administering streptozotocin, nicotinamide and high-fat diet to the mice. Our results revealed that DM deteriorates both ihNPs and IVD tissues, by elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress, inhibiting chondrogenic markers and disc height. Contrarily, PDB ameliorated IVDD by restoring cellular growth, chondrogenic markers and disc height, possibly through suppressing ROS levels. These data imply that PDB may serve as a potential chondroprotective and chondroregenerative candidate for DM-induced IVDD.

scholarly journals Effect of Static Compression Loads on Intervertebral Disc: Anin VivoBent Rat Tail Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Xia ◽  
Lin-lin Zhang ◽  
Jun Mo ◽  
Wen Zhang ◽  
Hai-tao Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Static Compression ◽  
Rat Tail Model ◽  
Rat Tail
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