Effect of the adenovirus-mediated Wip1 gene on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration in a rabbit model

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the adenovirus‑mediated wild‑type p53‑induced protein phosphatase 1 (Wip1) gene on lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) in a rabbit model. Adult New Zealand white rabbits were used as experimental subjects. The rabbits were divided into LDD groups (groups A‑C of rabbit models of LDD) and control groups (groups D‑F of normal rabbits). The animals in groups A and D were injected with the Wip1 gene vector, those in groups B and E were injected with an empty vector, and those in groups C and F were injected with phosphate‑buffered saline. Type II collagen was detected using a streptavidin‑biotin complex immunohistochemistry method. Postoperative X‑ray imaging showed a significant increase in the recovery of rabbits from group A, compared with those from groups B and C. The nucleus pulposus proteoglycan content of the intervertebral discs (L2‑3, L3‑4 and L4‑5) of group A remained higher, compared with the content in groups B and C, and the values in groups B and C differed from those of groups E and F. At 3, 6 and 9 weeks post‑injection, the content of type II collagen of intervertebral discs (L2‑3, L3‑4 and L4‑5) in group A differed from groups B and C, and the values in groups A‑C remained lower, compared with those in groups D‑F. The Wip1 gene exhibited a therapeutic effect in the treatment of LDD.