• Toshiaki Maruyama, Toshio Nakamae, Naosuke Kamei, Taiki Morisako, Kazuto Nakao, Fadlyansyah Farid, Hiroki Fukui, and Nobuo Adachi.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-Ku, HiroshimaHiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
• Eur Spine J. 2024 May 1; 33 (5): 211621282116-2128.

PurposeVertebral endplate lesions (EPLs) caused by severe disk degeneration are associated with low back pain. However, its pathophysiology remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to develop a vertebral EPL rat model mimicking severe intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration by injecting monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the IVDs and evaluating it by assessing pain-related behavior, micro-computed tomography (CT) findings, and histological changes.MethodsMIA was injected into the L4-5 and L5-6 IVDs of Sprague-Dawley rats. Their behavior was examined by measuring the total distance traveled and the total number of rearing in an open square arena. Bone alterations and volume around the vertebral endplate were assessed using micro-CT. Safranin-O staining, immunohistochemistry, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining were performed for histological assessment.ResultsThe total distance and number of rearing times in the open field were significantly reduced in a time-dependent manner. Micro-CT revealed intervertebral osteophytes and irregularities in the endplates at 12 weeks. The bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) around the endplates significantly increased from 6 weeks onward. Safranin-O staining revealed severe degeneration of IVDs and endplate disorders in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive nerve fibers significantly increased from 6 weeks onward. However, the number of osteoclasts decreased over time.ConclusionOur rat EPL model showed progressive morphological vertebral endplate changes in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, similar to the degenerative changes in human IVDs. This model can be used as an animal model of severe IVD degeneration to better understand the pathophysiology of EPL.© 2024. The Author(s).

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