Value and limitations of using the bovine tail as a model for the human lumbar spine.
METHODS
The contents of DNA, proteoglycan, type II collagen, and denatured type II collagen in the bovine coccygeal intervertebral discs were examined in situ in relation to disc level, age, and tissue region.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether bovine coccygeal discs are a suitable model to study human lumbar discs.


BACKGROUND
Bovine coccygeal discs have been suggested as a suitable alternative model because they are readily available, in contrast to human discs, and represent a common source of tissue in the disc field. However, it is not known whether the changes in matrix contents in bovine coccygeal discs are similar to those found in the human lumbar spine.


METHODS
Intervertebral discs from bovine tails were dissected into the nucleus pulposus (NP) and anulus fibrosus (AF). Tissues were weighed and analyzed for matrix contents using specific assays.


RESULTS
Similar to water content, the proteoglycan content was higher in the NP than in the AF. Water content of the bovine NP did not change with age, unlike the proteoglycan content, which decreased. type II collagen content was higher in the NP than in the AF, and both did not change overall significantly with age. The percent of denatured type II collagen decreased with age only in the NP. The DNA content did not vary with age in the AF and in the NP.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in matrix contents exist between the bovine coccygeal discs and the human lumbar spine. Thus, caution must be exercised when using the bovine tail as a model for the human lumbar spine in biochemical studies.
Demers
Caroline N
CN
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Antoniou
John
J
Mwale
Fackson
F
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003050:Coccyx / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013623:Tail; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D024043:Collagen Type II; D011509:Proteoglycans; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA