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