BACKGROUND:Morphological characteristics of the rabbit lumbar vertebrae are of great significance for animal experiments about lumbar spine, but there is a lack of study on the lumbar morphology in rabbits. OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional model of rabbit lumbar vertebrae, and to observe its morphological characteristics, thereby providing anatomical basis for the animal experiments about lumbar spine.METHODS:Twenty New Zealand rabbits were subjected to 64-row multi-detector CT (Siemens) scan, and the three-dimensional models were constructed based on the CT data from 140 lumbar vertebrae. The morphological parameters of L1-7 were measured, and the internal and external structures of lumbar vertebrae and changes of different segments were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Changes of the morphological parameters of each lumbar vertebra:the L1-7 height first increased and then decreased, and the shortest height was in the L7, which was (1.12±0.18) cm. L1 vertebral body exhibited the shortest transverse diameter, (1.03±0.15) cm, and the longitudinal diameter did not differ significantly among vertebrae. The transverse and longitudinal diameters of L1-6 spinal canals were on a rise, but decreased abruptly at L7. The pedicle width of L1-7 increased gradually;the pedicle height of L1-5 increased gradually, and then began to decrease markedly, and the shortest at L7, (0.58±0.11) cm. The width and length of L1-6 spinous process increased steadily, but decreased at L7. The length of L1-3 transverse process increased gradually, tended to be steady at L3-6, and increased notably at L6-7;there were significant differences in the transverse process angle at L1-6, but the angle increased markedly to (58±2)° at L7, (2) These results indicate that the internal and external structures of lumbar vertebrae and changes of different segments are obtained through morphological measurement of lumbar vertebrae in New Zealand white rabbit, which provides a detailed anatomical data for relative animal experiments.

Objective To observe the clinic efficacy of open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) compared with minimally invasive operation in treating lumbar spinal stenosis and instability among obese and non‐obese patients .Methods A ret‐rospective analysis was performed in these cases of mono‐segmental lumbar spinal stenosis and instability between January 2011 and January 2013 .Perioperative index ,clinical efficacy ,and imaging results were observed and compared between different groups .Re‐sults Thirty‐four obese cases and 105 non‐obese cases were divided into two groups ,including conventional posterior open TLIF and minimally invasive TLIF operation ,to compare the results .Perioperative indexes of obese patients were more than non‐obese patients undergone open TLIF operation way and there was significant difference(P<0 .01);while by minimally invasiveTLIF oper‐ation way ,comparing the results of the surgical blood loss and incision size between obese and non‐obese group ,there was signifi‐cant difference(P<0 .05) .However ,there was not significant difference in the operative time between two groups(P>0 .05) .No cases of slippage or breakage of implants were found among all these patients after 6 months of follow up .Postoperative VAS and ODI among these four groups were better than before(P<0 .01) .Undergoing open postoperative VAS in obese group and in non‐obese group ,there was significant difference(P< 0 .05);undergoing minimally invasive postoperative ODI in obese group and in non‐obese group ,there was significant difference(P< 0 .05) .But ,undergoing open postoperative ODI in obese group and in non‐obese group ,there was not significant difference(P>0 .05);undergoing minimally invasive postoperative VAS in obese group and in non‐obese group ,there was not significant difference(P>0 .05) .Conclusion Therefore ,obese may be risk factor in treating lumbar spinal stenosis and instability .

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on the expression of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) in rats. METHODS: Allen's weight-drop method was used to establish a rat model of ASCI at T10. A total of 110 adult SD rats were divided into a sham operation group (group S, n=10), a control group (group C, n=50), and a TMP group (group T, n=50). Spinal cord functionality was measured by a modified Rivilin loxotic plate degree, BBB score, and combined behavioral score (CBS) at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 d postoperatively. The injured spinal cord tissue samples were harvested at 1, 3, 6, 12 h and 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 d postoperatively (n=5 at each time point) and used to prepare continuous histological sections, in which the expression of MIF was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The degree in group T measured by modified Rivlin loxotic plate test after the ASCI was significantly higher than that in group C at 7, 14, and 21 d (P<0.05). BBB score in group T was significantly higher than that in group C at 5, 7, 14, and 21 d after the ASCI (P<0.05). CBS score in group C was significantly higher than that in group T at 5, 7, 14, and 21 d after the ASCI (P<0.05). The significantly low number of MIF positive cells was shown in group T when compared with that in group C at 12 h and 1, 3, 5, 7 d after the ASCI (P<0.05). As time passed, there was negative correlation between modified Rivlin loxotic plate degree and MIF expression and also between BBB score and MIF, and there was positive correlation between CBB score and MIF expression. CONCLUSION TMP has protective effect after the ASCI, and may promote the repair of injured spinal cord tissues. TMP may decrease the MIF expression in cells after the ASCI.
Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism