Orthopeadic Research Laboratory, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Mar 15;36(6):E373-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181dce34c.
Experimental, controlled, randomized, and paired study.
To evaluate regenerative effect of stem cell therapy on the vertebral endplate and introduce dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a tool in the investigation of endplate function.
The vertebral endplate plays a crucial role in nutritional supply to the intervertebral disc. Estimation of endplate function is an important parameter in future biologic therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).
Four-level IDD was induced in each of 15 Gottingen minipigs. Percutaneous intradiscal injection of two hydrogels (Zimmer Biologics Inc, Austin, TX) and one loaded with stem cells was used as single interventions after 12 weeks. Total observation time was 24 weeks. MRI was performed before the initiation of treatment and killing of animals.
Three animals were excluded because of spondylodiscitis. Stem cell and hydrogel treatment had significantly higher T2 values, relative vertebral blood flow and volume, as well as lower Pfirrmann scores when compared with degenerative controls. No statistical differences were found compared to normal controls.
Stem cell and hydrogel therapy is able to partly regenerate IDD and maintain perfusion and permeability of the vertebral endplate and subchondral bone. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI may become an important tool in future investigation of the vertebral endplate.
实验性、对照性、随机化、配对研究。
评估干细胞疗法对椎体终板的再生作用，并引入动态对比增强磁共振成像（MRI）作为研究终板功能的工具。
椎体终板在向椎间盘提供营养方面起着至关重要的作用。评估终板功能是未来椎间盘退变（IDD）生物治疗的一个重要参数。
在 15 只哥廷根小型猪的每只动物的四个节段中诱导 IDD。在 12 周后，采用经皮椎间盘内注射两种水凝胶（Zimmer Biologics Inc，Austin，TX）和一种负载干细胞的水凝胶作为单一干预措施。总观察时间为 24 周。在开始治疗和动物处死前进行 MRI 检查。
由于脊椎炎，有 3 只动物被排除在外。与退行性对照组相比，干细胞和水凝胶治疗的 T2 值、相对椎体血流和体积明显更高，Pfirrmann 评分更低。与正常对照组相比，无统计学差异。
干细胞和水凝胶治疗能够部分再生 IDD，并维持椎体终板和软骨下骨的灌注和通透性。动态对比增强 MRI 可能成为未来研究椎体终板的重要工具。
