Changes in gene expression profile caused by mechanical stress in the ligamentum flavum -short term rabbit model-

To identify the changes in gene expression profile caused by mechanical stress in the ligamentum flavum, we performed resection of the L3-4 supraspinal muscle and L2-3, L4-5 posterolateral fusion with instrumentation to concentrate the mechanical stress with segmental instability at the L3-4 level. The control group underwent only surgical exposure as a sham operation. Both groups of rabbits were sacrificed at 16 weeks after surgery and total RNA were extracted from ligamentum flavum. mRNA profiles of rabbit ligamentum flavum obtained at the intervertebral stress concentration level (ISC level) , the fused level and the control level were generated by microarray.