title: Are animal models useful for studying human disc disorders/degeneration?
abstract: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is an often investigated pathophysiological condition because of its implication in causing low back pain. As human material for such studies is difficult to obtain because of ethical and government regulatory restriction, animal tissue, organs and in vivo models have often been used for this purpose. However, there are many differences in cell population, tissue composition, disc and spine anatomy, development, physiology and mechanical properties, between animal species and human. Both naturally occurring and induced degenerative changes may differ significantly from those seen in humans. This paper reviews the many animal models developed for the study of IVD degeneration aetiopathogenesis and treatments thereof. In particular, the limitations and relevance of these models to the human condition are examined, and some general consensus guidelines are presented. Although animal models are invaluable to increase our understanding of disc biology, because of the differences between species, care must be taken when used to study human disc degeneration and much more effort is needed to facilitate research on human disc material.
authors.affiliation: AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse, 7270, Davos, Switzerland. mauro.alini@aofoundation.org
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alini
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Eisenstein
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: A Annette
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kettler
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melrose
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ralphs
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: Hans Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wilke
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology