Measurement and evaluation of surgical models of spinal fusion in mice, rats, and rabbits

Abstract

This study aims to establish a theoretical foundation for selecting and constructing animal models in clinical research on spine-related diseases. By establishing surgical models in three experimental animal species—mice, rats, and rabbits—we compare their respective advantages and disadvantages. First, three experimental animals of each of the three species were selected in good health. Subsequently, the experimental animals were dissected and several indices of the designated intervertebral discs and the height of the adjacent vertebrae were measured. At the same time, the ease of the surgical operation was assessed intraoperatively (in terms of the ease of preoperative localization, the clarity of the intraoperative structures, and the length of the surgical operation). In addition, the animal type most suitable for the construction of a spinal fusion surgery model was evaluated. Finally, a rabbit spinal fusion surgical model was constructed and evaluated by palpation and gross view of the tissue to assess the degree of spinal fusion. The data on the disc structure of rabbits have more advantages than those of mice and rats in constructing surgical models, with easier preoperative localization, more precise intraoperative structure, and shorter surgery time. Spinal fusion surgery in rabbits was successful, with a significant trend toward fusion at 4 weeks postoperatively. Rabbits were superior to mice and rats as experimental animals for establishing spinal fusion surgery models, and the fusion models were effective.

Keywords

Lα intervertebral disc / mice / operation / rabbit / rat / spinal fusion surgery model

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2026 The Author(s). Animal Models and Experimental Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences.