Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40438632›Full record

ArticleJOR spine2025

In Vivo Measurements Reveal Increased Nucleus Pulposus Lactate and Oxygen Concentrations in a Goat Model of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Karthikeyan Rajagopal, Thomas P Schaer, Kyle D Meadows, Madeline Boyes, Rachel Hilliard, John C O'Donnell, George R Dodge, Dmitriy Petrov, Dawn M Elliott, Robert L Mauck and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JOR spine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Karthikeyan RajagopalTranslational Musculoskeletal Research Center Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.
Thomas P SchaerTranslational Musculoskeletal Research Center Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4340-8212
Kyle D MeadowsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering University of Delaware Newark Delaware USA.
Madeline BoyesDepartment of Clinical Studies New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Kennett Square Pennsylvania USA.
Rachel HilliardDepartment of Clinical Studies New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Kennett Square Pennsylvania USA.
John C O'DonnellDepartment of Neurosurgery Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.
George R DodgeDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.
Dmitriy PetrovDepartment of Neurosurgery Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.
Dawn M ElliottDepartment of Biomedical Engineering University of Delaware Newark Delaware USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4792-1029
Robert L MauckTranslational Musculoskeletal Research Center Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.
Lachlan J SmithTranslational Musculoskeletal Research Center Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5823-6073
Neil R MalhotraTranslational Musculoskeletal Research Center Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.

Funding

Overall: Resource-based Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders Research (Overall Application)P30AR069619 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI LOUIS J SOSLOWSKY · 2016 to 2026
$9.1M
Neutralizing the degenerate disc microenvironment to enhance the efficacy of therapeutic stem cellsR01AR077435 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI MALHOTRA, NEIL, MAUCK, ROBERT L · 2021 to 2025
$2.7M
NIAMS NIH HHS P30 AR069619NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR077435RRD VA I01 RX001321RRD VA IK2 RX003376RRD VA IK6 RX003416
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Intervertebral disc degeneration is strongly implicated as a cause of low back pain. Although the precise pathophysiological mechanisms remain elusive, perturbations in nutrition that adversely impact the cellular microenvironment of the central nucleus pulposus (NP) may be contributing factors. A comprehensive understanding of this microenvironment, including changes in nutrient availability as a function of degeneration, is critical for the development of effective cell-based treatments. The goal of this study was to adapt brain tissue oxygen probes and microdialysis catheters for in situ determination of relative NP oxygen, glucose, and lactate levels in a preclinical goat model of disc degeneration. Methods: Following ex vivo technical refinement in bovine caudal discs, baseline metabolite measurements were performed in vivo in the lumbar discs of 3 large frame goats. Degeneration was then induced via injection of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) into the NP, and measurements were repeated after 12 weeks. Degeneration severity was graded using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology, and vertebral endplate porosity was assessed using microcomputed tomography. Results: Oxygen and lactate levels in goat NPs were significantly higher in degenerate compared to healthy discs, while glucose levels were not significantly different. ChABC-injected discs exhibited higher vertebral endplate porosity, worse histological and MRI grades, and a spectrum of cartilage endplate damage compared to healthy discs. There were significant positive correlations between MRI grade and both NP oxygen and lactate levels. Discussion: We successfully adapted techniques including surgical placement, equilibration time, flow rate, and detection method for in situ measurement of oxygen, glucose, and lactate in a goat model of disc degeneration. Interestingly, while increased lactate with degeneration was expected, increased oxygen levels were unexpected. Our findings may, in part, be explained by associated alterations in disc and endplate structure, and motivate future studies to comprehensively establish the underlying mechanisms in this model.

Indexed as

caprineendplatelumbarmetabolitesmicrodialysisnutritionoxygen probe

Identifiers

PMID40438632
PMCPMC12116463

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.