The development of scoliosis and its associated factors in tight skin mouse

English Keywords:Scoliosis  Micro-CT  Tight skin mouse  Risk factors

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To study the development of scoliosis and its risk factors in tight skin(TSK) mouse, and to evaluate the progression of scoliosis in clinical practice. Methods: 36 two-week-old TSK mice were divided into 6 groups(6 mice in each group) according to different time of sacrifice. The TSK mice were weighted at different time points(4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks and 14 weeks). Then the mice were euthanized on different time points(4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks and 14 weeks), and spine samples were collected and stored properly. Micro-computed tomography was used to scan all the spine samples to obtain cross sectional images, which were modified originally by image processing software "Image J". Then the processed images were imported into the software "Mimics 14.11" for 3D reconstruction and coronal Cobb angle and associated parameters,including kyphosis angle, rib length, vertebral width and height. Pearson correlation analysis was used to study the correlations of Cobb angle with kyphosis angle, rib difference between two sides, vertebral width, anterior vertebral height, posterior vertebral height, difference between anterior and posterior vertebral height, body weight. Results: The coronal Cobb angle was 7.69°±4.57°(3.26°-14.92°), 14.20°±7.52°(2.11°-21.66°), 11.50°±4.40°(4.78°-18.54°), 14.40°±6.23°(4.54°-22.12°), 17.38°±10.93°(4.12°-29.24°) and 21.71°±7.73°(13.07°-33.88°) on 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks and 14 weeks old respectively. The correlation of Cobb angle with kyphosis angle, rib difference between two sides, vertebral width, anterior vertebral height, posterior vertebral height, difference between anterior and posterior height, weight was -0.053(P=0.769), -0.138(P=0.444), -0.186(P=0.301), 0.567(P=0.001), 0.554(P=0.001), 0.086(P=0.643) and 0.482(P=0.005) respectively. Conclusions: The coronal Cobb angle of TSK mice increases with their growth. The progress of scoliosis is correlated with anterior vertebral height, posterior vertebral height and weight in TSK mouse, while no with other parameters involved in our study.