Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2009):

In vivo remodeling of intervertebral discs in response to short- and long-term dynamic compression.

Full Abstract

This study evaluated how dynamic compression induced changes in gene expression, tissue composition, and structural properties of the intervertebral disc using a rat tail model. We hypothesized that daily exposure to dynamic compression for short durations would result in anabolic remodeling with increased matrix protein expression and proteoglycan content, and that increased daily load exposure time and experiment duration would retain these changes but also accumulate changes representative of mild degeneration. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 100) were instrumented with an Ilizarov-type device and divided into three dynamic compression (2 week-1.5 h/day, 2 week-8 h/day, 8 week-8 h/day at 1 MPa and 1 Hz) and two sham (2 week, 8 week) groups. Dynamic compression resulted in anabolic remodeling with increased matrix mRNA expression, minimal changes in catabolic genes or disc structure and stiffness, and increased glysosaminoglycans (GAG) content in the nucleus pulposus. Some accumulation of mild degeneration with 8 week-8 h included loss of annulus fibrosus GAG and disc height although 8-week shams also had loss of disc height, water content, and minor structural alterations. We conclude that dynamic compression is consistent with a notion of "healthy" loading that is able to maintain or promote matrix biosynthesis without substantially disrupting disc structural integrity. A slow accumulation of changes similar to human disc degeneration occurred when dynamic compression was applied for excessive durations, but this degenerative shift was mild when compared to static compression, bending, or other interventions that create greater structural disruption. (c) 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society.

Author information

Author/s: Wuertz, Karin (K); Godburn, Karolyn (K); MacLean, Jeffrey J (JJ); Barbir, Ana (A); Donnelly, Justin Stinnett (JS); Roughley, Peter J (PJ); Alini, Mauro (M); Iatridis, James C (JC);

Affiliation: School of Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.

Grants: R01 AR051146 (Agency:NIAMS NIH HHS) ; R01 AR051146-02 (Agency:NIAMS NIH HHS) ; R01 AR051146-03 (Agency:NIAMS NIH HHS) ; R01 AR051146-04 (Agency:NIAMS NIH HHS) ; R01 AR051146-05 (Agency:NIAMS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society (J Orthop Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 27 (issue 9) : pp 1235-42

Dates: Created 2009/08/11; Completed 2009/09/01; Revised 2009/10/07;

PMID: 19274755, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/8/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aggrecans - genetics Animals Biomechanics Collagen Type I - genetics Collagen Type II - genetics Compressive Strength - physiology Disease Models, Animal Extracellular Matrix - physiology Gene Expression - physiology Glycosaminoglycans - metabolism

Ilizarov Technique Intervertebral Disk - cytology; physiology Intervertebral Disk Displacement - pathology; physiopathology RNA, Messenger - metabolism Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - genetics Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 - genetics Water - metabolism Weight-Bearing - physiology

Associated Chemicals: Agc1 protein, rat (0) ; Aggrecans (0) ; Collagen Type I (0) ; Collagen Type II (0) ; Glycosaminoglycans (0) ; RNA, Messenger (0) ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 (0) ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 (0) ; Water (7732-18-5)

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