The mechanisms and causes of
scoliosis are believed to be multifactorial.
Syringomyelia can often be found in
scoliosis patients but the relationship between the two remains obscure. In this study, based on a rabbit model of
syringomyelia-associated
scoliosis, the involved pathological mechanism was explored in an attempt to further understand the relationship. This will also be helpful in determining how
scoliosis occurred. In this study, a
syringomyelia-associated
scoliosis rabbit model was established by
kaolin-injection technique. Spinal cell apoptosis following
scoliosis and
syringomyelia induction were analyzed. Furthermore, the effect of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSCs)
transplantation on spinal cell apoptosis and on incidence of
scoliosis and
syringomyelia were assessed. Most of the experimental animals injected with
kaolin developed progressive scoliotic curves and
syringomyelia. Syrinx and
scoliosis were found in 64.7% and 58.8% of the experimental animals.
Syringomyelia-associated
scoliosis appeared in 41.2% of the animals. Syrinx size and scoliotic curves increased with time. Apoptosis was found on postoperative day 3 both in surgical segments and adjacent segments in the spinal cord, peaking at week 6. The number of apoptotic cells was significantly lower in BM-MSCs
transplantation group compared with the saline-injection group. Fewer rabbits in the BM-MSCs injection group developed
scoliosis or
syringomyelia by the end of the experiment. Our findings indicate the potential value of
kaolin-induced scoliotic animal models. For the first time, we studied features of apoptosis of spinal cells in a
syringomyelia-associated
scoliosis rabbit model. Our results demonstrate that BM-MSCs transplanted into the spinal cord decrease both apoptosis of spinal cells and incidence of
scoliosis and
syringomyelia.