title: Apoptosis of endplate chondrocytes in post-laminectomy cervical kyphotic deformity. An in vivo animal model in sheep.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was performed to establish an animal model of cervical kyphosis after laminectomy (C2-C5), and to determine the role of endplate chondrocytes apoptosis in cervical kyphosis after laminectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four 3-month-old sheep were randomly divided into two groups: the laminectomy group (n = 12), and the control group (n = 12). The cervical spine alignment was evaluated on a lateral cervical spine X-ray using Harrison's posterior tangent method before surgery and at follow-up. Cartilaginous endplate chondrocyte apoptosis was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean preoperative cervical curvature (C2-5) in the surgery group was -15.8°. The cervical curvature was 19.1° at 3 months post-operation and decreased to 20.2° at the final follow-up postoperatively. The cervical curvature was significantly decreased in the laminectomy group compared with the control group at the last follow-up (P < 0.001), which was a direct indication of kyphotic change. The incidence of apoptotic cells in the surgery group was significantly higher at the 3- and 6-month follow-up than the incidence in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of endplate chondrocyte apoptosis in the laminectomy group was significantly higher than in the control group, indicating that chondrocyte apoptosis may play a pivotal role in the progress of post-laminectomy cervical kyphosis.
authors: Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
authors: Dechao
authors: D
authors: Kong
authors: Tiansheng
authors: T
authors: Zheng
authors: Jiahu
authors: J
authors: Fang
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011859:Radiography; D012756:Sheep
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