Comparing Transperitoneal Retroperitoneal Access and Percutaneous Puncture for Lumbar Disc Degeneration Modeling in Rabbits

Summary

This protocol compared percutaneous and trans-retroperitoneal punctures in a rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) model. Both methods induced IVDD; however, the trans-retroperitoneal approach resulted in more extensive changes and lower mortality.

Abstract

This study compares the efficacy of two methods for inducing intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) in rabbits: percutaneous and trans-retroperitoneal puncture of the annulus fibrosus. Fifteen healthy male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups: sham, percutaneous puncture, and trans-retroperitoneal puncture. A comprehensive assessment, including mortality rates, morphological and histological evaluations, radiological imaging, and biomarker analysis, was conducted to ensure an accurate and detailed comparison between the two methods. The results demonstrate that both puncture techniques successfully induced IVDD in the rabbit model. However, the trans-retroperitoneal approach resulted in more pronounced degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs while maintaining a significantly lower mortality rate compared to the percutaneous method. These findings highlight the advantages of the trans-retroperitoneal approach in IVDD modeling. This study provides valuable insights into the establishment of IVDD models and lays a foundation for future investigations into effective treatment strategies for low back pain, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Introduction

Over the past few decades, low back pain (LBP) has emerged as the most significant musculoskeletal disorder affecting quality of life¹. LBP has become an increasingly important public health concern, imposing a substantial economic burden on society due to lost labor and additional medical expenses^2,3. In the United States alone, the direct and indirect costs associated with LBP exceed $100 billion annually, including medical expenditures, income losses, and labor losses⁴. LBP is often caused by intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD)⁵

Protocol

The animal experimental procedures strictly adhered to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals issued by the National Institutes of Health and were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Ethics Approval Number: 2021-23). Fifteen healthy, 4-month-old, clean-grade New Zealand White rabbits (2.25 kg ± 0.25 kg) were used, including seven males and eight females. The animals were housed in an environment with a room temperature of 23 °C ± 3 °C and a humidity of approximately 60% ± 10% for one week of adaptation, with free access to water and food. Prior to the experim....

Results

The surgical procedures were performed without complications. One rabbit from Group B (percutaneous puncture group) died after the procedure. All other animals resumed normal feeding and activity patterns postoperatively and survived throughout the experimental period. No prolonged bleeding or infection was observed at the surgical sites.

Mortality and general condition assessment
The mortality rate was 0% for both Group A and Group C, while it was 20% for Group B (

Discussion

The findings of this study indicate that both percutaneous and trans-retroperitoneal puncture approaches are effective in inducing intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) in rabbit models. Notably, based on a comprehensive evaluation of general condition, mortality, histopathological assessment, TUNEL assay, and serum TGF-β levels, the trans-retroperitoneal puncture model resulted in more extensive degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs while maintaining a lower mortality rate.

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Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
0.3 T Veterinary Maenetic Resonance lmaging(MRI)	NINGBO CHUANSHANJIA	CSJ-MR
Alcohol medical	LIRCON	20230107
Benzylpenicillin potassium	Jiangxi Keda Animal Pharmaceutical	140051251
Haemostatic forceps	SHINVA	20211239
Injection syringe	CONPUVON	20153151307
Knife blades	Hons Medincal	20210615
Medical absorbent cotton ball	Cofoe	20210006
Medical suture needle	Shanghai Xiaoyi Medical Devices	20192020430
Medullo-puncture needle	Yangzhou Jiangzhou Medical Devices	20190902	Used to puncture lumbar disc
Physiological saline	NeilMed	C1210504D2
Povidone iodine solution	Sichuan IJIS Medical Technology	20221209
Quasi-microbalance	Explorer
Rabbit dissection operating table	Zhenhua Biomedical	ZH-BXT-3Z
Shaver	AUX
Statistical analysis softeare	IBM	SPSS
Sterile gauze	Cofoe	20202140675
Surgical gloves	DR.LERSH	20172140028
Surgical knife	Hons Medinca	20210019
Surgical tweezers	SHINVA	20210233
USB-C data transmission line	KINI
White light photography microscope	Nikon	Eclipse Ci-L