Young Investigator Award Winner: Validation of the Mouse and Rat Disc as Mechanical Models of the Human Lumbar Disc

STUDY DESIGN: Measure the mechanical properties of the mouse and rat disc in compression and torsion. OBJECTIVES: Validate mouse and rat disc as a biomechanical model of the human disc by comparing the normalized properties in compression and torsion loading. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Rodents have been widely used as models to study disc degeneration; however, mechanical assessments of the rodent disc have been limited. Mouse and rat disc mechanical properties have not been determined. METHODS: Mechanically test mouse and rat motion segments from both the lumbar and the caudal levels in axial compression and torsion. Normalize the stiffness using disc geometry and compare with human motion segment stiffness taken from the literature. Compare lumbar and caudal levels with each…