This work was supported by the Washington University Musculoskeletal Research Center (NIH P30 AR057235), Molecular Imaging Center (NIH P50 CA094056), Mechanobiology Training Grant (NIH 5T32EB018266), NIH R21AR069804, and NIH K01AR069116. The authors would like to thank Patrick Wong for his contributions in data collection.

All animal experiments were performed in compliance with the Washington University in St. Louis Animal Studies Committee.
1. Animals
<ol>
	<li>Obtain two strains of mice: 10-week old BALB/c (n = 6, BALB-M, BALB/cAnNTac) and 10-week old nuclear factor kappa-B-luciferase reporter animals (NF-&#954;&#946;-luc) bred on a BALB/c background (n = 6, BALB/c-Tg(Rela-luc)31Xen).</li>
	<li>Prior to dissection, euthanize animals with CO2 overdose at a flow rate of 2.5-3 L/min for 5 min followed by an additional 2 min of dwelling time.</li>
	<li>Disinfect the outside region of the animal by bathing it in a 70% ethanol bath for 2 min before dissection.</li>
</ol>
2. Dissection
<ol>
	<li>Make a longitudinal vertical cut on the dorsal surface of the mouse using small dissection scissors to expose the body cavity.</li>
	<li>Make two longitudinal vertical cuts on either side of the animal&#39;s spine starting from the first lumbar vertebrae (L1) to the caudal vertebrae (C8).</li>
	<li>Using a scalpel, fine forceps, and fine dissection scissors, carefully remove the spine from L1-C8 from the animal&#39;s body cavity.</li>
	<li>Carefully remove excess soft tissues surrounding the spinal column, while ensuring to not scrape or injure the IVD on the ventral side.</li>
	<li>Further dissect the spinal column into vertebrae-disc-vertebrae functional spinal units (FSUs) at the L1/L2, L3/L4, L5/L6, C3/C4, C5/C6, and C7/C8 discs.</li>
	<li>Rinse the FSUs in Hank&#39;s balanced salt solution supplemented with 1% penicillin-streptomycin for 2 min.</li>
	<li>Randomly assign the FSUs into three groups: uncultured and untreated FSUs (Fresh), cultured but untreated FSUs (Control), and cultured and stab treated FSUs (Stab).</li>
	<li>Snap freeze the Fresh FSU samples with liquid nitrogen immediately after dissection and store in a -20 &#176;C freezer.</li>
</ol>
3. Organ Culture Conditions
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 500 mL of sterile culture media of 1:1 Dulbecco&#39;s modified Eagle&#39;s medium: Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM:F12) supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin.</li>
	<li>Using 10 mL serological pipettes, pipette 2 mL of culture media into each well of a 24-well culture plate.</li>
	<li>Following dissection and rinse, place each FSU into an individual well in the media-filled 24-well plate.</li>
	<li>Incubate the samples in a sterile incubator that maintains 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2, 20% O2 and &#62; 90% humidity.</li>
	<li>After an initial culture period of 24 h, mechanically injure the Stab group samples via needle puncture of the annulus fibrosus using a sterile 27-gauge needle as shown in Figure 1A.</li>
	<li>Change media every 48 h by preparing a new media-filled 24-well culture plate, and transfer samples from the old plate to the new using sterile tweezers. Aspirate the old media and dispose of the old culture plate in a biohazard waste bin.</li>
	<li>On the final day of culture, incubate all samples in media containing 0.75 mg/mL nitro blue tetrazolium chloride for 24 h.</li>
	<li>Afterwards, freeze all the FSUs with liquid nitrogen and store in a -20 &#176;C freezer until ready for mechanical testing or histology (Figure 1B).</li>
</ol>
4. Longitudinal Measurements NF-&#954;B
<ol>
	<li>Image the FSUs from NF-&#954;&#946;-luciferase animals at 1, 5, 13, and 19 days to assess NF-&#954;B expression.</li>
	<li>Add 10 &#181;L of 1 mg/mL luciferin solution to each well and incubate in a sterile incubator at 37 &#176;C for 10 min.</li>
	<li>Image the samples for bioluminescence using the imaging system with a 1 min exposure time and bin setting of 2.</li>
	<li>Concurrently, use the machine to take a photograph and overlay it with the bioluminescence image to determine the anatomical location of luminescence in the IVD.</li>
</ol>
5. Mechanical Assessment
<ol>
	<li>Determine the mechanical behavior of the IVDs by using displacement-controlled dynamic compression9.</li>
	<li>Using a dissection microscope, scalpel, and tweezers, remove the bony vertebral bodies of the FSU from each sample while keeping the cartilaginous endplates intact and attached to the IVD.</li>
	<li>Attach the isolated IVDs to a 1 cm x 1 cm x 0.2 cm aluminum plate using cyanoacrylate glue.</li>
	<li>Measure the disc height and width by taking an average of three measurements on the longitudinal axis of each disc using a laser micrometer. Calculate the disc height ratio by dividing the average disc height by the maximum disc width.</li>
	<li>Use the measured disc height to calculate the input strain values used in mechanical testing. Note that the average disc height was approximately 690 &#181;m &#177; 39 &#181;m.</li>
	<li>Place the samples in a phosphate buffered saline bath under the compression machine and preload the disc to 0.02 N.</li>
	<li>Cyclically compress the disc using a sinusoidal waveform at 1 Hz for 20 cycles at the 1% strain level and 5% strain level for 3 trials each and record the load and displacement values of the IVD. Allow 10 min of resting time between trials for the disc to relax and to prevent injury.</li>
	<li>Calculate the average stiffness from the loading phase of the last cycle, and calculate the loss tangent from the phase angle between load and displacement data.</li>
</ol>
6. Proteoglycan and Collagen Quantification
<ol>
	<li>Following mechanical testing, measure the disc wet weight by placing the isolated IVD in a pre-tared centrifuge tube and measuring the weight using an analytical balance.</li>
	<li>Digest the isolated IVDs in 250 &#181;L papain digestion solution (0.1 M sodium acetate, 0.01 M EDTA, 0.005 M cysteine HCl, pH 6.4) overnight at 65 &#176;C using a block heater.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge samples for 10 min at 2,000 x g and collect the supernatant fluid.</li>
	<li>Measure the proteoglycan content of the IVD by using the dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay with chondroitin sulfate standards.</li>
	<li>Prepare DMMB solution (21 mg DMMB, 5 mL absolute ethanol, 2 g sodium formate in 1 L ddH2O).</li>
	<li>Pipette 30 &#181;L of standards and samples in triplicate in a 96-well plate, along with 250 &#181;L of DMMB solution in each well.</li>
	<li>Read the absorbance of the plate at 525 nm using a spectrophotometer.</li>
	<li>Measure the collagen content using a hydroxyproline assay kit according to manufacturer instructions.</li>
</ol>
7. Histology
<ol>
	<li>Fix a subset of samples in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 h, de-calcify in 5% formic acid for 48 h, dehydrate with ethanol, and embed in paraffin.</li>
	<li>Using a microtome, section the samples sagittally at 10 &#181;m thickness and apply sections to glass slides. Stain the sections using Safranin-O/Fast Green and DAPI.</li>
	<li>Using a light microscope, image slides at 10X magnification.</li>
</ol>
8. Contrast-enhanced microComputed Tomography (microCT)
<ol>
	<li>Scan a subset of samples at the 0, 2, 5, and 7-day time points using longitudinal Ioversol contrast-enhancement10, and terminal phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) contrast-enhancement at the 7 day time point.</li>
	<li>4 h prior to microCT scan time, add 300 &#181;L of 350 mg/mL iodine Ioversol solution to the culture media for a final concentration of approximately 50 mg/mL iodine-containing Ioversol solution and incubate in a sterile incubator at 37 &#176;C for 4 h.</li>
	<li>Following incubation, wrap the sample in sterile gauze and place in a 1 mL microcentrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>Place samples in the microCT system and scan at 45 keVp, 177 &#181;A, 10.5 &#181;m voxel size, and 300 ms integration.</li>
	<li>Export data from the microCT as DICOM files and visualize using software (e.g., OsiriX).</li>
	<li>At the 7-day time point, fix samples using a 4% paraformaldehyde solution for 24 h, followed by 5% PMA solution for 3 days, and scan using the same settings as those used in step 8.4.</li>
</ol>
9. Three Dimensional Finite Element Modeling
<ol>
	<li>Segment the DICOM files of the IVDs using software with manual thresholding (e.g., OsiriX).</li>
	<li>Convert the NP and AF volumes of the IVD into voxel-based finite element meshes using Meshlab.</li>
	<li>Combine the microstructures of the NP and AF to form a complete IVD and apply experimentally determined boundary conditions in the finite element software.</li>
</ol>

<ol><li>Dagenais, S., Caro, J., Haldeman, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+systematic+review+of+low+back+pain+cost+of+illness+studies+in+the+United+States+and+internationally%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Spine+J%22%5BJournal%5D)">A systematic review of low back pain cost of illness studies in the United States and internationally.</a> Spine J. 8 (1), 8-20 (2008).</li>
<li>Urban, J., Roberts, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Degeneration+of+the+intervertbral+disc%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Arthritis+Res+Ther%22%5BJournal%5D)">Degeneration of the intervertbral disc.</a> Arthritis Res Ther. 5 (6), 1-48 (2003).</li>
<li>Mirza, S. K., White, A. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Anatomy+of+intervertebral+disc+and+pathophysiology+of+herniated+disc+disease%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Clin+Laser+Med+Surg%22%5BJournal%5D)">Anatomy of intervertebral disc and pathophysiology of herniated disc disease.</a> J Clin Laser Med Surg. 13 (3), 131-142 (1995).</li>
<li>Acaroglu, E. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Degeneration+and+aging+affect+the+tensile+behavior+of+human+lumbar+anulus+fibrosus%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Spine%22%5BJournal%5D)">Degeneration and aging affect the tensile behavior of human lumbar anulus fibrosus.</a> Spine. 20 (24), 2690-2701 (1995).</li>
<li>Abraham, A. C., Liu, J. W., Tang, S. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Longitudinal+changes+in+the+structure+and+inflammatory+response+of+the+intervertebral+disc+due+to+stab+injury+in+a+murine+organ+culture+model%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Orthop+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Longitudinal changes in the structure and inflammatory response of the intervertebral disc due to stab injury in a murine organ culture model.</a> J Orthop Res. 34 (8), 1431-1438 (2016).</li>
<li>Ohtori, S., Inoue, G., Miyagi, M., Takahashi, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Pathomechanisms+of+discogenic+low+back+pain+in+humans+and+animal+models%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Spine+J%22%5BJournal%5D)">Pathomechanisms of discogenic low back pain in humans and animal models.</a> Spine J. 15 (6), 1347-1355 (2015).</li>
<li>Pelle, D. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Genetic+and+functional+studies+of+the+intervertebral+disc%3A+A+novel+murine+intervertebral+disc+model%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22PLoS+ONE%22%5BJournal%5D)">Genetic and functional studies of the intervertebral disc: A novel murine intervertebral disc model.</a> PLoS ONE. 9 (12), (2014).</li>
<li>Zhang, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Time+course+investigation+of+intervertebral+disc+degeneration+produced+by+needle-stab+injury+of+the+rat+caudal+spine%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosurg%3A+Spine%22%5BJournal%5D)">Time course investigation of intervertebral disc degeneration produced by needle-stab injury of the rat caudal spine.</a> J Neurosurg: Spine. 15 (4), 404-413 (2011).</li>
<li>Liu, J. W., Abraham, A. C., Tang, S. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+high-throughput+phenotyping+of+the+viscoelastic+behavior+of+whole+mouse+intervertebral+discs+using+a+novel+method+of+dynamic+mechanical+testing%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Biomech%22%5BJournal%5D)">The high-throughput phenotyping of the viscoelastic behavior of whole mouse intervertebral discs using a novel method of dynamic mechanical testing.</a> J Biomech. 48 (10), 2189-2194 (2015).</li>
<li>Lin, K. H., Wu, Q., Leib, D. J., Tang, S. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+novel+technique+for+the+contrast-enhanced+microCT+imaging+of+murine+intervertebral+discs%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Mech+Behav+Biomed+Mater%22%5BJournal%5D)">A novel technique for the contrast-enhanced microCT imaging of murine intervertebral discs.</a> J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 63, (2016).</li>
<li>Pasparakis, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Regulation+of+tissue+homeostasis+by+NF-kappaB+signalling%3A+implications+for+inflammatory+diseases%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nat+Rev%3A+Immunol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Regulation of tissue homeostasis by NF-kappaB signalling: implications for inflammatory diseases.</a> Nat Rev: Immunol. 9 (11), 778-788 (2009).</li>
<li>O’Connell, G. D., Vresilovic, E. J., Elliott, D. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Comparison+of+animals+used+in+disc+research+to+human+lumbar+disc+geometry%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Spine%22%5BJournal%5D)">Comparison of animals used in disc research to human lumbar disc geometry.</a> Spine. 32 (3), 328-333 (2007).</li>
<li>Lee, C. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((In+vitro+organ+culture+of+the+bovine+intervertebral+disc%3A+effects+of+vertebral+endplate+and+potential+for+mechanobiology+studies%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Spine%22%5BJournal%5D)">In vitro organ culture of the bovine intervertebral disc: effects of vertebral endplate and potential for mechanobiology studies.</a> Spine. 31, 515-522 (2006).</li>
<li>Chan, S. C., Gantenbein-Ritter, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Preparation+of+Intact+Bovine+Tail+Intervertebral+Discs+for+Organ+Culture%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J.+Vis.+Exp%22%5BJournal%5D)">Preparation of Intact Bovine Tail Intervertebral Discs for Organ Culture.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (60), e3490(2012).</li>
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The authors of this manuscript declare that they have no competing financial interests.

This protocol outlines an organ culture of the murine FSU with emphasis on monitoring the biological changes in the IVD. The successful maintenance of these cultures requires careful sterile techniques. In particular, the dissection steps 2.1-2.6 and the culture steps 3.1-3.6 require special care to ensure sterile conditions are maintained, and these steps should be performed preferably in an isolated procedure room with a HEPA airflow to minimize contaminants. Because the dissection proc...

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading factor for global disability and lost productivity in the workplace, and Americans alone spend in excess of 50 billion dollars on LBP treatment1. Although prevalent, the etiology of LBP remains complex and multifactorial. However, intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is among the most significant risk factors for LBP2.
The IVD is made of three microstructures: the exterior annulus fibrosis (AF), the interior nucleus pulposus (NP), and two cartilaginous endplates that sandwich the whole structure proximally and distally3. With aging and degeneration, the IVD components change structurally, compositionally, and mechanically4. These changes include the loss of proteoglycans and hydration in the NP, decreased disc height, and deteriorated mechanical competence5. These alterations are often accompanied by cytokines that promote an inflammatory response, as well as neutrophil and dorsal root ganglion intrusion into the joint space culminating in a cascade of events that lead to LBP symptoms6.
Studying the mechanisms of IVD degeneration is challenging in humans because it is often not possible to isolate the cause of the degeneration before the occurrence of low back pain. Thus, a reductionist approach of simplifying the experimental system down to the IVD organ allows mechanistic fine-tuning of causal variables and examining their downstream effects5. The system is reduced to only the native cell population and surrounding extracellular matrix, thus enabling the direct interpretation of the effects of external stimuli on IVD degeneration. Moreover, the lower cost and scalability of murine models, as well as the large number of genetically modified animals7, allow for the rapid targeted screening of IVD degenerative mechanisms and potential therapies. Here, we describe a murine organ culture system in which IVD cellular and tissue stability is maintained over 21 days, with specific focus given to the IVDs&#39; homeostatic, mechanical, structural, and inflammatory patterns. Using this method, we monitor the IVDs&#39; functional changes in a stab-induced injury model8 to understand the mechanisms behind disc degeneration. Furthermore, we describe several applications of this organ culture method to conduct further studies including contrast-enhanced microCT imaging and three-dimensional high-resolution modeling of the IVD.

<table><tbody><tr><td>96 well plate</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>TP92096</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>24 well plate</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>TP92024</td><td>Used for organ culture</td></tr><tr><td>25 mL pipettes</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>TP94024</td><td>Used for organ culture</td></tr><tr><td>10 mL pipettes</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>TP94010</td><td>Used for organ culture</td></tr><tr><td>5 mL pipettes</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>TP94005</td><td>Used for organ culture</td></tr><tr><td>500 mL bottle top filters, 22 &amp;micro;m</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>TP99505</td><td>Used for filter media</td></tr><tr><td>10 &amp;micro;L pipette tips</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>NP89140098</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>200 &amp;micro;L pipette tips</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>NP89140900</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>1,000 &amp;micro;L pipette tips</td><td>Midwest Scientific</td><td>NP89140920</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>DMEM/F-12</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>11330032</td><td>Used for culture media</td></tr><tr><td>Optiray 350</td><td>Guebert</td><td>19133341</td><td>Used for contrast enhanced microCT</td></tr><tr><td>Fetal Bovine Serum</td><td>Sigma</td><td>F2442</td><td>Used for culture media</td></tr><tr><td>Penicillin Streptomycin&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P4333</td><td>Used for culture media</td></tr><tr><td>Tetrazolium Blue Chloride</td><td>Sigma</td><td>T4375</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>D-Luciferin</td><td>Sigma</td><td>L6152</td><td>Used for bioluminescence imaging</td></tr><tr><td>Chondroitin Sulfate</td><td>Sigma</td><td>C9819</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>10% Phosphomolybdic Acid Solution</td><td>Sigma</td><td>HT152</td><td>Used for contrast enhanced microCT</td></tr><tr><td>Safranin O</td><td>Sigma</td><td>S8884</td><td>diluted to .1% concentration (in water)</td></tr><tr><td>Fast Green FCF</td><td>Sigma</td><td>F7258</td><td>.001% concentration</td></tr><tr><td>Papain from papaya latex</td><td>Sigma&amp;nbsp;</td><td>P3125</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>DAPI</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>D9542</td><td>Nucleic acid staining</td></tr><tr><td>Cyanoacrylate Glue</td><td>Loctite</td><td>234790</td><td>Adhesive&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>1.5 mL Microcentrifuge Tubes</td><td>Fischer Scientific</td><td>S348903</td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Big Equipment&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>BioDent</td><td>ActiveLife</td><td></td><td>For mechanical testing</td></tr><tr><td>Cytation 5</td><td>Biotek</td><td></td><td>Spectrophotometer</td></tr><tr><td>AxioCam503</td><td>Carl Zeiss AG</td><td></td><td>Microscope</td></tr><tr><td>VivaCT40</td><td>Scanco</td><td></td><td>MicroCT</td></tr><tr><td>Analytical balance</td><td>Denver Instrument Company</td><td>A-200DS</td><td>Analytical balance</td></tr><tr><td>Incubator HERAcell 150i</td><td>Thermo Scientific</td><td></td><td>Organ Culture</td></tr><tr><td>Dissection Scope</td><td>VistaVision</td><td></td><td>Used during dissection</td></tr><tr><td>Laser Micrometer</td><td>Keyence</td><td>LK-081</td><td>Measuring disc height</td></tr><tr><td>Microcentrifuge 5810 R</td><td>Eppendorf</td><td></td><td>Used for biochemical assays</td></tr><tr><td>Microtome</td><td>Leica&amp;nbsp;</td><td>RM2255</td><td>Used for histology</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Software&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Prism 7</td><td>GraphPad</td><td></td><td>For statistics</td></tr><tr><td>MATLAB R2014a</td><td>Mathworks</td><td></td><td>For modeling</td></tr><tr><td>Osiri-LXIV</td><td>Pixmeo</td><td></td><td>Open Source</td></tr><tr><td>MeshLab v1.3.3</td><td>Visual Computing Lab - ISTI - CNR</td><td></td><td>Open Source</td></tr><tr><td>PreView/FEBio 2.3</td><td>Utah MRL &amp;amp; Columbia MBL</td><td></td><td>Open Source</td></tr><tr><td>ImageJ</td><td>NIH</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Microsoft Excel</td><td>Windows</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Dissection Tools&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cohan-Vannas Spring Scissors&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>15000-02</td><td>Or any nice pair of spring scissors</td></tr><tr><td>Fine Scissors - Sharp&amp;nbsp; (small)</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>14060-09</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fine Scissors - Sharp&amp;nbsp; (larger)</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>14060-11</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>11252-40</td><td>At least 2; can also use #3&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Extra Fine Graefe Forceps, serrated</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>11150-10</td><td>At least 2</td></tr><tr><td>Micro-Adson Forceps, serrated</td><td>World Precision Instruments</td><td>503719-12</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Micro-Adson Forceps, teeth</td><td>World Precision Instruments</td><td>501244</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Scalpel Handle - #3</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>10003-12</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Scalpel Handle - #4</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>10004-13</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Scalpel Blades - #23</td><td>Fine Science Tools&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</td><td>10023-00</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Insect Pins, size 000</td><td>Fine Science Tools</td><td>26000-25</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>27 G Needle</td><td>BD PrecisionGlide Needles</td><td>BD305109</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

an in vitro organ culture model of the murine intervertebral disc

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a significant contributor to low back pain. The IVD is a fibrocartilaginous joint that serves to transmit and dampen loads in the spine. The IVD consists of a proteoglycan-rich nucleus pulposus (NP) and a collagen-rich annulus fibrosis (AF) sandwiched by cartilaginous end-plates. Together with the adjacent vertebrae, the vertebrae-IVD structure forms a functional spine unit (FSU). These microstructures contain unique cell types as well as unique extracellular matrices. Whole organ culture of the FSU preserves the native extracellular matrix, cell differentiation phenotypes, and cellular-matrix interactions. Thus, organ culture techniques are particularly useful for investigating the complex biological mechanisms of the IVD. Here, we describe a high-throughput approach for culturing whole lumbar mouse FSUs that provides an ideal platform for studying disease mechanisms and therapies for the IVD. Furthermore, we describe several applications that utilize this organ culture method to conduct further studies including contrast-enhanced microCT imaging and three-dimensional high-resolution finite element modeling of the IVD.

Figures 2-3 show representative results of proteoglycan distribution, NF-&#954;B expression, stiffness, viscosity, disc height, and wet weight for cultured mouse IVDs. If cultured properly, the IVD parameters of the Control group should not be significantly different from the Fresh group. If the culture is infected or otherwise compromised, the Control group will be different from the Fresh group, especially in NF-&#954;B expression and proteoglycan distribution (results not shown). Figures 4-5</...

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An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

Whole organ culture of the intervertebral disc (IVD) preserves the native extracellular matrix, cell phenotypes, and cellular-matrix interactions. Here we describe an IVD culture system using mouse lumbar and caudal IVDs in their functional spinal units and several applications utilizing this system.

An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a significant contributor to low back pain. The IVD is a fibrocartilaginous joint that serves to transmit and ...

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Bioengineering

9.5K Views.  Washington University in St. Louis. Whole organ culture of the intervertebral disc (IVD) preserves the native extracellular matrix, cell phenotypes, and cellular-matrix interactions. Here we describe an IVD culture system using mouse lumbar and caudal IVDs in their functional spinal units and several applications utilizing this system.

Video: An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

Alginate Hydrogels for Three-Dimensional Organ Culture of Ovaries and Oviducts

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women and has a 63% mortality rate in the United States1. The cell type of origin for ovarian cancers is still in question and might be either the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) or the distal epithelium of the fallopian tube fimbriae2,3. Culturing the normal cells as a primary culture in vitro will enable scientists to model specific changes that might lead to ovarian cancer in the distinct epithelium, thereby definitively determining the cell type of origin. This will allow development of more accurate biomarkers, animal models with tissue-specific gene changes, and better prevention strategies targeted to this disease.
Maintaining normal cells in alginate hydrogels promotes short term in vitro culture of cells in their three-dimensional context and permits introduction of plasmid DNA, siRNA, and small molecules. By culturing organs in pieces that are derived from strategic cuts using a scalpel, several cultures from a single organ can be generated, increasing the number of experiments from a single animal. These cuts model aspects of ovulation leading to proliferation of the OSE, which is associated with ovarian cancer formation. Cell types such as the OSE that do not grow well on plastic surfaces can be cultured using this method and facilitate investigation into normal cellular processes or the earliest events in cancer formation4.
Alginate hydrogels can be used to support the growth of many types of tissues5. Alginate is a linear polysaccharide composed of repeating units of &beta;-D-mannuronic acid and &alpha;-L-guluronic acid that can be crosslinked with calcium ions, resulting in a gentle gelling action that does not damage tissues6,7. Like other three-dimensional cell culture matrices such as Matrigel, alginate provides mechanical support for tissues; however, proteins are not reactive with the alginate matrix, and therefore alginate functions as a synthetic extracellular matrix that does not initiate cell signaling5. The alginate hydrogel floats in standard cell culture medium and supports the architecture of the tissue growth in vitro.
A method is presented for the preparation, separation, and embedding of ovarian and oviductal organ pieces into alginate hydrogels, which can be maintained in culture for up to two weeks. The enzymatic release of cells for analysis of proteins and RNA samples from the organ culture is also described. Finally, the growth of primary cell types is possible without genetic immortalization from mice and permits investigators to use knockout and transgenic mice.

Culture of normal cells in their three-dimensional context represents an alternative method to study early events required for cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. This method is used to grow normal ovarian and oviductal cells to study early events in ovarian cancer formation.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women and has a 63% mortality rate in the United States1. The cell type of origin for ...

Preparation of Intact Bovine Tail Intervertebral Discs for Organ Culture

The intervertebral disc (IVD) is the joint of the spine connecting vertebra to vertebra. It functions to transmit loading of the spine and give flexibility to the spine. It composes of three compartments: the innermost nucleus pulposus (NP) encompassing by the annulus fibrosus (AF), and two cartilaginous endplates connecting the NP and AF to the vertebral body on both sides. Discogenic pain possibly caused by degenerative intervertebral disc disease (DDD) and disc herniations has been identified as a major problem in our modern society. To study possible mechanisms of IVD degeneration, in vitro organ culture systems with live disc cells are highly appealing. The in vitro culture of intact bovine coccygeal IVDs has advanced to a relevant model system, which allows the study of mechano-biological aspects in a well-controlled physiological and mechanical environment. Bovine tail IVDs can be obtained relatively easy in higher numbers and are very similar to the human lumbar IVDs with respect to cell density, cell population and dimensions. However, previous bovine caudal IVD harvesting techniques retaining cartilaginous endplates and bony endplates failed after 1-2 days of culture since the nutrition pathways were obviously blocked by clotted blood. IVDs are the biggest avascular organs, thus, the nutrients to the cells in the NP are solely dependent on diffusion via the capillary buds from the adjacent vertebral body. Presence of bone debris and clotted blood on the endplate surfaces can hinder nutrient diffusion into the center of the disc and compromise cell viability. Our group established a relatively quick protocol to "crack"-out the IVDs from the tail with a low risk for contamination. We are able to permeabilize the freshly-cut bony endplate surfaces by using a surgical jet lavage system, which removes the blood clots and cutting debris and very efficiently reopens the nutrition diffusion pathway to the center of the IVD. The presence of growth plates on both sides of the vertebral bone has to be avoided and to be removed prior to culture. In this video, we outline the crucial steps during preparation and demonstrate the key to a successful organ culture maintaining high cell viability for 14 days under free swelling culture. The culture time could be extended when appropriate mechanical environment can be maintained by using mechanical loading bioreactor. The technique demonstrated here can be extended to other animal species such as porcine, ovine and leporine caudal and lumbar IVD isolation.

This protocol illustrates a harvesting technique for coccygeal bovine intervertebral discs for organ culture for in vitro organ culture.

The intervertebral disc (IVD) is the joint of the spine connecting  vertebra to vertebra. It functions to transmit loading of the spine and give  ...

Tissue Engineering of the Intestine in a Murine Model

Tissue-engineered small intestine (TESI) has successfully been used to rescue Lewis rats after massive small bowel resection, resulting in return to preoperative weights within 40 days.1 In humans, massive small bowel resection can result in short bowel syndrome, a functional malabsorptive state that confers significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs including parenteral nutrition dependence, liver failure and cirrhosis, and the need for multivisceral organ transplantation.2 In this paper, we describe and document our protocol for creating tissue-engineered intestine in a mouse model with a multicellular organoid units-on-scaffold approach. Organoid units are multicellular aggregates derived from the intestine that contain both mucosal and mesenchymal elements,3 the relationship between which preserves the intestinal stem cell niche.4 In ongoing and future research, the transition of our technique into the mouse will allow for investigation of the processes involved during TESI formation by utilizing the transgenic tools available in this species.5The availability of immunocompromised mouse strains will also permit us to apply the technique to human intestinal tissue and optimize the formation of human TESI as a mouse xenograft before its transition into humans. Our method employs good manufacturing practice (GMP) reagents and materials that have already been approved for use in human patients, and therefore offers a significant advantage over approaches that rely upon decellularized animal tissues. The ultimate goal of this method is its translation to humans as a regenerative medicine therapeutic strategy for short bowel syndrome.

This article and the accompanying video present our protocol for generating tissue-engineered intestine in the mouse, using an organoid units-on-scaffold approach.

Tissue-engineered small intestine (TESI) has successfully been used to rescue Lewis rats after massive small bowel resection, resulting in return to ...

In vitro Cell Culture Model for Toxic Inhaled Chemical Testing

Cell cultures are indispensable to develop and study efficacy of therapeutic agents, prior to their use in animal models. We have the unique ability to model well differentiated human airway epithelium and heart muscle cells. This could be an invaluable tool to study the deleterious effects of toxic inhaled chemicals, such as chlorine, that can normally interact with the cell surfaces, and form various byproducts upon reacting with water, and limiting their effects in submerged cultures. Our model using well differentiated human airway epithelial cell cultures at air-liqiuid interface circumvents this limitation as well as provides an opportunity to evaluate critical mechanisms of toxicity of potential poisonous inhaled chemicals. We describe enhanced loss of membrane integrity, caspase release and death upon toxic inhaled chemical such as chlorine exposure. In this article, we propose methods to model chlorine exposure in mammalian heart and airway epithelial cells in culture and simple tests to evaluate its effect on these cell types.

In vitro Cell Culture Model for Toxic Inhaled Chemical Testing

This protocol is designed to demonstrate exposure method of cell cultures to inhaled toxic chemicals. Exposure of differentiated air-liquid&#160;interface (ALI) cultures of airway epithelial cells provides a unique model of airway exposure to toxic gases such as chlorine. In this manuscript we describe effect of chlorine exposure on air-liquid&#160;interface cultures of epithelial cells and submerged culture of cardiomyocytes. In vitro exposure systems allow important mechanistic studies to evaluate pathways that could then be utilized to develop novel therapeutic agents.

Cell cultures are indispensable to develop and study efficacy of therapeutic agents, prior to their use in animal models. We have the unique ability to ...

Ovine Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Utilizing a Lateral Retroperitoneal Drill Bit Injury

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a significant contributor to the development of back pain and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Numerous animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration have been developed. The ideal animal model should closely mimic the human intervertebral disc with regard to morphology, biomechanical properties and the absence of notochordal cells. The sheep lumbar intervertebral disc model fulfils these criteria. We present an ovine model of intervertebral disc degeneration utilizing a drill bit injury through a lateral retroperitoneal approach. The lateral approach significantly reduces the incision and potential morbidity associated with the traditional anterior approach to the ovine spine. Utilization of a drill-bit method of injury affords the ability to produce a consistent and reproducible injury, of precise dimensions, that initiates a consistent degree of intervertebral disc degeneration. The focal nature of the annular and nucleus pulposus defect more closely mimics the clinical condition of focal intervertebral disc herniation. Sheep recover rapidly following this procedure and are typically mobile and eating within the hour. Intervertebral disc degeneration ensues and sheep undergo necropsy and subsequent analysis at periods from eight weeks. We believe that the drill bit injury model of intervertebral disc degeneration offers advantages over more conventional annular injury models.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a significant contributor to back pain and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Numerous animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration exist. We demonstrate an ovine model of intervertebral disc degeneration, utilizing a drill bit, which achieves a consistent disc injury and reproducible level of disc degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a significant contributor to the development of back pain and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Numerous ...

Medicine

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.

Symptomatic intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a major socioeconomic burden and is characterized by inflammation and tissue degradation. Due to the lack of causative therapies, there is an urgent need for innovative experimental organ culture models to study the mechanisms involved in the progression of the disease, find therapeutic targets, and reduce the need for animal models. We here present a novel, three-dimensional organ culture model protocol mimicking the proinflammatory and catabolic microenvironment, which is present during IDD. 
Initially, bovine caudal IVDs were dissected, cleaned, and cultured in the tissue culture medium. Dynamic physiologic or pathologic loading was applied in a custom-made bioreactor for 2 hours per day. IVDs were assigned to a control group (high glucose medium, physiological loading, phosphate-buffered saline injection) and a pathological group (low glucose medium, pathological loading, tumor necrosis factor-alpha injection) for four days. Gene expression analysis from collected nucleus pulposus cells of the IVDs and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the conditioned organ culture media was performed. 
Our data revealed a higher expression of inflammatory markers and reduced disc heights after loading in the pathological group compared to the control group. This protocol is reliable to simulate IVD inflammation and degeneration and can be further expanded to broaden its application scope.

This protocol presents a novel experimental model of proinflammatory, degenerative bovine organ culture to simulate early-stage intervertebral disc degeneration.

Symptomatic intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a major socioeconomic burden and is characterized by inflammation and tissue degradation. Due ...

A Mouse Model of Lumbar Spine Instability

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common pathological change leading to low back pain. Appropriate animal models are desired for understanding the pathological processes and evaluating new drugs. Here, we introduced a surgically induced lumbar spine instability (LSI) mouse model that develops IDD starting from 1 week post operation. In detail, the mouse under anesthesia was operated by low back skin incision, L3&#8211;L5 spinous processes exposure, detachment of paraspinous muscles, resection of processes and ligaments, and skin closure. L4&#8211;L5 IVDs were chosen for the observation. The LSI model develops lumbar IDD by porosity and hypertrophy in endplates at an early stage, decrease in intervertebral disc volume, shrinkage in nucleus pulposus at an intermediate stage, and bone loss in lumbar vertebrae (L5) at a later stage. The LSI mouse model has the advantages of strong operability, no requirement of special equipment, reproducibility, inexpensive, and relatively short period of IDD development. However, LSI operation is still a trauma that causes inflammation within the first week post operation. Thus, this animal model is suitable for study of lumbar IDD.

We developed a lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration mouse model by resection of L3&#8211;L5 spinous processes along with supra- and inter-spinous ligaments and detachment of paraspinous muscles.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common pathological change leading to low back pain. Appropriate animal models are desired for understanding ...

Biology

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a leading cause of low back pain and it entails a high degree of impairment for the affected individuals. To decode disc degeneration and to be able to develop regenerative approaches a thorough understanding of the cellular biology of the IVD is essential. One aspect of this biology that still remains unanswered is the question of how cells are spatially arranged in a physiological state and during degeneration. The biological properties of the IVD and its availability make this tissue difficult to analyze. The present study investigates spatial chondrocyte organization in the anulus fibrosus from early embryonic development to end-stage degeneration. An optical sectioning method (Apotome) is applied to perform high resolution staining analyses using bovine embryonic tissue as an animal model and human disc tissue obtained from patients undergoing spine surgery. From a very high chondrocyte density in the early embryonic bovine disc, the number of cells decreases during gestation, growth, and maturation. In human discs, an increase in cellular density accompanied the progression of tissue degeneration. As had already been demonstrated in articular cartilage, cluster formation represents a characteristic feature of advanced disc degeneration.

We present a method to investigate spatial chondrocyte organization in the anulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc using an optical sectioning method.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a leading cause of low back pain and it entails a high degree of impairment for the affected individuals. To ...

Generating a Pro-Inflammatory Organ Culture Model to Simulate an Early Intervertebral Disc Disease

Source: Saravi, B., et al. <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/62100">A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2021).
This video demonstrates a technique for culturing bovine intervertebral discs in bioreactors to develop a three-dimensional organ culture model. Specific nutrient-deprived media and degenerative pressure conditions are applied to the discs, mimicking the pro-inflammatory and degenerative microenvironment observed during early-stage intervertebral disc disease. The disc heights are measured post-treatment to analyze the effects of nutrient deprivation and degenerative loading.

All procedures involving animal samples have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate animal ethical review committee.
1. Dissection of the bovine ...

JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments

Neuroscience

Neuronal Culture Techniques

Advanced Neuronal Models

Generating an Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease

Source: Saravi, B. et al., <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/62100">A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.</a>&#160;J. Vis. Exp. (2021).
This video demonstrates the development of a pro-inflammatory and degenerative organ culture model for early-stage intervertebral disc (IVD) disease using TNF-&#945;. It outlines the procedure for injecting TNF-&#945; into the intervertebral disc and explains the mechanisms through which TNF-&#945; induces inflammation and degradation of the IVD.

Source: Saravi, B. et al., A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.&#160;J. Vis. Exp. ...

An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

Summary

Explore More Videos

Alginate Hydrogels for Three-Dimensional Organ Culture of Ovaries and Oviducts

Preparation of Intact Bovine Tail Intervertebral Discs for Organ Culture

Tissue Engineering of the Intestine in a Murine Model

In vitro Cell Culture Model for Toxic Inhaled Chemical Testing

Ovine Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Utilizing a Lateral Retroperitoneal Drill Bit Injury

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.

A Mouse Model of Lumbar Spine Instability

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration

Generating a Pro-Inflammatory Organ Culture Model to Simulate an Early Intervertebral Disc Disease

Generating an Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease