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Are animal models useful for studying human disc disorders/degeneration?

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse, 7270, Davos, Switzerland

    Mauro Alini & Keita Ito

  2. Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, UK

    Stephen M. Eisenstein

  3. Raymond Purves Lab, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney at the Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, Australia

    Christopher Little & James Melrose

  4. Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    A. Annette Kettler & Hans Joachim Wilke

  5. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush Medical College at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Koichi Masuda

  6. School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Jim Ralphs

  7. Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Vermont, Burlington, VA, USA

    Ian Stokes

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  1. Mauro Alini
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  10. Hans Joachim Wilke
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All of the authors contributed equally to this publication and are listed simply in alphabetical order.

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Alini, M., Eisenstein, S.M., Ito, K. et al. Are animal models useful for studying human disc disorders/degeneration?. Eur Spine J 17, 2–19 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0414-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0414-y

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