Assessing the validity of a novel model of vertebral artery type of cervical syndrome induced by injecting sclerosing agent next to transverse process of cervical vertebra

Abstract

The efficacy of injecting sclerosing agent next to transverse process of cervical vertebra to induce vertebral artery type of cervical syndrome (CSA) was observed. Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: the model group and the control group. The rabbits in the model group were injected with sclerosing agent next to transverse process of cervical vertebray, on the contrary, the rabbits in the control group were injected with nothing. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) was used to detect the average speed of blood (Vm), pulsatility index (Pi) and the resistant index (Ri) of the vertebral artery, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2). TCD showed increased Pi, Ri and decreased Vm in the model group (P<0.05) compared with the control group. HE staining revealed hyperplasia and hypertrophied smooth muscle cells in the model group (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry displayed up-regulation of alpha-SMA and MMP-2 in the model group (P<0.05). It was concluded that injecting sclerosing agent next to transverse process of cervical vertebra induces remodeling of vertebral artery in rabbits, suggesting it is a practical method to establish CSA animal model.