[A rabbit model of cervical spondylosis established by stimulation of wind, cold and dampness].
OBJECTIVE
To make an animal model of cervical spondylosis (arthralgia syndrome type) with stimulation of wind, cold, and dampness.


METHODS
Twenty-four 8 months old male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into four groups: normal control group, light stimulation group, moderate stimulation group and severe stimulation group. The wind speed was 10.8-13.8 m/s, the temperature was (5+/-0.5)degrees centigrade, and the humidity was 100%. The rabbits of light, moderate, and severe stimulation groups were kept in the above-mentioned environments for 4 hours everyday, and for a total of 32, 64, and 128 hours, respectively. The intervertebral discs were stained with HE method, and observed with a light microscope. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), 6-ketone-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-K-PGF(1alpha)) and thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) contents were measured by ELISA. Fas and Bcl-2 expressions were examined by immunohistochemical avidin-biotin peroxidose complex technique. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA expressions were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The nucleus pulposus of rabbits in the light and moderate stimulation groups shrunken, and in the severe stimulation group, the anulus fibrosus loosed or ruptured, and the cartilage end-plate became proliferated. Compared with rabbits in the normal control group, the PGE(2) content rose in the light stimulation group, the contents of PGE(2), 6-K-PGF(1alpha), and TXB(2) increased, the expressions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNAs and Fas were up-regulated, and the expressions of TGF-beta mRNA and Bcl-2 were down-regulated in the moderate and severe stimulation groups. The expression of Fas was up-regulated mostly and Bcl-2 was down-regulated mostly in the severe group.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate and severe stimulations of wind, cold and dampness can lead to degeneration of cervical intervertebral discs of rabbits. The model corresponds to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine about arthralgia syndrome caused by wind, cold and dampness.
Wang
Yong-jun
YJ
Institute of Spine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China. yjwang88@hotmail.com
Shi
Qi
Q
Zhou
Quan
Q
Li
Chen-guang
CG
Cheng
Jiang-ming
JM
Liu
Mei
M
Yang
Yang
Y
Zhou
Chong-jian
CJ
D000818:Animals; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004777:Environment; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006813:Humidity; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014919:Wind
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta