[Animal Modeling]-Unilateral transverse process tension spring compression to establish a rabbit scoliosis model

  Objective: To establish a rabbit model of scoliosis compressed by unilateral transverse process tension spring.

  Method: Operate ten two-month-old New Zealand white rabbits, and attach tension springs to the right lateral protrusions of L2 and L5. Before the operation and 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the operation, positive X-ray and side radiographs were taken to measure the bump angle and the length of the tension spring. After filming 8 weeks after the operation, 10 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: sterilization (SR) group and 5 nursery groups (SK). I took out the tension spring of the SR group. X-rays were taken at 12:00 on the 9th week. Weekly, measure the hump and kyphosis. After 12 weeks, the apical and upper vertebrae of all rabbits were scanned by Micro-CT, and the volume fraction (BV/TV) of the upper and lower end plates of the apical vertebrae was recorded. Statistical analysis of experimental results is carried out through analysis of variance or non-parametric test and student test.

  Result: By the end of the experiment, all rabbits were alive, and all the bump angles exceeded 10°. The bump angle and kyphotic angle at different time points at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery were larger than those before surgery (P0.05). After removing the tension spring for 12 weeks, the pitch angle and kyphotic angle of the SK group were greater than those of the SR group (P0.05).

  Conclusion: The unilateral lateral process tension spring compression model is a model of animal scoliosis, which is highly reproducible, easy to operate, and has a short experimental period.