Lumbar endplate microfracture injury induces Modic-like changes, intervertebral disc degeneration and spinal cord sensitization - an in vivo rat model.

Background Context: Endplate (EP) injury plays critical roles in painful IVD degeneration since Modic changes (MCs) are highly associated with pain. Models of EP microfracture that progress to painful conditions are needed to better understand pathophysiological mechanisms and screen therapeutics.

Purpose: Establish in vivo rat lumbar EP microfracture model and assess crosstalk between IVD, vertebra and spinal cord.

Spinal Cord Sensitization and Spinal Inflammation from an In Vivo Rat Endplate Injury Associated with Painful Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration with Modic-like changes is strongly associated with pain. Lack of effective disease-modifying treatments for IVDs with endplate (EP) defects means there is a need for an animal model to improve understanding of how EP-driven IVD degeneration can lead to spinal cord sensitization. This rat in vivo study determined whether EP injury results in spinal dorsal horn sensitization (substance P, SubP), microglia (Iba1) and astrocytes (GFAP), and evaluated their relationship with pain-related behaviors, IVD degeneration, and spinal macrophages (CD68).

Lumbar endplate microfracture injury induces Modic-like changes, intervertebral disc degeneration and spinal cord sensitization - An In Vivo Rat Model.

: Endplate (EP) injury plays critical roles in painful IVD degeneration since Modic changes (MCs) are highly associated with pain. Models of EP microfracture that progress to painful conditions are needed to better understand pathophysiological mechanisms and screen therapeutics. : Establish in vivo rat lumbar EP microfracture model with painful phenotype.