title: [Establishment of a rabbit model of scoliosis induced by asymmetric load using springs].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish rabbit model of scoliosis induced with stable asymmetric lumbar loads.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scoliosis was induced in 10 two-month-old New Zealand rabbits using 316L stainless steel springs placed between the unilateral transverse processes of L2 and L5. Serial radiographs were documented before and at 1, 4, 8, 9 and 12 weeks after the operation. At weeks, the rabbits were randomly divided into SR group (n=5) with the spring removed and SK group (n=5) without spring removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the rabbits survived the experiment with Cobb angle all greater than 10 degree at the end of the experiment. Significant changes were found in the Cobb angles and kyphotic angles at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation (P<0.05). At 8 weeks, the Cobb angle, the kyphotic angle and the length of the spring were similar between SR and SK groups (P>0.05), and in the 4 weeks following spring removal in SR group, the Cobb angle and the kyphosis decreased significantly compared with those in SK group (P<0.05). Micro-CT showed that the BV/TV of the concave side was greater than that of the convex side. The length of the spring did not show obvious changes during the experiment (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asymmetric lumbar loading is a convenient, time-saving, and highly reproducible approach for establishing rabbit models of scoliosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China. E-mail: lilunchao72@qq.com.
authors.forename: Lun-Chao
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qing-An
authors.initials: QA
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhi-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hai-Long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Guang-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: De-Hong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ji-Xing
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*