title: Longitudinal Comparison of Enzyme- and Laser-Treated Intervertebral Disc by MRI, X-Ray, and Histological Analyses Reveals Discrepancies in the Progression of Disc Degeneration: A Rabbit Study.
abstract: Regenerative medicine is considered an attractive prospect for the treatment of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. To assess the efficacy of the regenerative approach, animal models of IVD degeneration are needed. Among these animal models, chemonucleolysis based on the enzymatic degradation of the Nucleus Pulposus (NP) is often used, but this technique remains far from the natural physiopathological process of IVD degeneration. Recently, we developed an innovative animal model of IVD degeneration based on the use of a laser beam. In the present study, this laser model was compared with the chemonucleolysis model in a longitudinal study in rabbits. The effects of the treatments were studied by MRI (T2-weighted signal intensity (T2wsi)), radiography (IVD height index), and histology (NP area and Boos' scoring). The results showed that both treatments induced a degeneration of the IVD with a decrease in IVD height and T2wsi as well as NP area and an increase in Boos' scoring. The enzyme treatment leads to a rapid and acute process of IVD degeneration. Conversely, laser radiation induced more progressive and less pronounced degeneration. It can be concluded that laser treatment provides an instrumental in vivo model of slowly evolving IVD degenerative disease that can be of preclinical relevance for assessing new prophylactic biological treatments of disc degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, CRIP, National Veterinary School (ONIRIS), 44307 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5336-9352
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusellier
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Odontology Faculty, University of Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombier
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Odontology Faculty, University of Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lesoeur
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Samy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Youl
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, CRIP, National Veterinary School (ONIRIS), 44307 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madec
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Department of Experimental Surgery, CRIP, National Veterinary School (ONIRIS), 44307 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Medicine Faculty, University of Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Odontology Faculty, University of Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France; PHU4 OTONN, University Hospital of Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guicheux
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMRS 791, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Ostéo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), Group STEP "Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology", School of Dental Surgery, 44042 Nantes, France; Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital of Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France; Pharmacy Faculty, University of Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clouet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis / Q000379:methods*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007834:Lasers; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D000070614:Nucleus Pulposus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D014965:X-Rays