Abstract
Study DesignAn animal experiment about intervertebral disc allograft.ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility to decellularize disc allografts treated by 6°Co Gamma Irradiation, and simultaneously, to assess the possibility to make use of the decellularized natural disc scaffold for disc degeneration biotherapy.Summary of Background DataStudies of both animal and human disc allograft transplantation indicated that the disc allograft may serve as a scaffold to undertake the physiological responsibility of the segment.Methods Experiment in vitro: 48 discs of beagles were harvested and divided randomly into four groups including a control group and three irradiated groups. Immediate cell viability and biomechanical properties of the discs were checked and comparisons were made among these groups. Experiment in vivo: 24 beagles accepted single-level allografted disc treated with different doses of gamma irradiation. Plain X-rays and MRIs were taken before and after surgery. Then, the spinal columns were harvested en bloc from the sacrificed beagles and were examined morphologically.ResultsThere were significant differences of both the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus immediate cell viabilities among the various groups. There were no obvious differences of the biomechanical properties among the four groups. The disc height and range of motion decreased significantly in all groups as time went on. The observed indexes in irradiated groups were much smaller than those in the control group, but the indexes in 18-kGy group were larger than those in 25-kGy and 50-kGy groups. Both MRI and macroscopic findings showed that the segmental degeneration in the control and 18-kGy group was less severe than that in 25-kGy and 50-kGy groups.ConclusionGamma Irradiation can decellularize disc allograft successfully to provide natural scaffold for the study of degenerative disc disease therapy, and also can be used as an effective method to produce adjustable animal models.
Highlights
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is frequently seen in humans’ during life and characterized by a multifaceted, chronic process leading to biologic and mechanical dysfunction
Solid arthrodesis of DDD segments may bring about overload of neighboring discs causing adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) [1], [2]
The results showed that even though the functional spinal unit was stable and mobile, disc allograft may result in degeneration [5], [7]
Summary
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is frequently seen in humans’ during life and characterized by a multifaceted, chronic process leading to biologic and mechanical dysfunction. Solid arthrodesis of DDD segments may bring about overload of neighboring discs causing adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) [1], [2]. Total disc allografting (TDA), as a natural mobile disc replacement, has brought about promising results in both animal studies and recent clinical trials [5,6,7]. The results showed that even though the functional spinal unit was stable and mobile, disc allograft may result in degeneration [5], [7]. This raises the research question of whether a decellularized allograft would better serve as a healthy scaffold for future biological and tissue engineered treatments
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
