In Brief:
We have conducted a study of the radiographic, magnetic resonance imaging, biochemical, and histologic changes in the rabbit intervertebral disc after injection of osteogenic protein-1 into the nucleus pulposus in a rabbit needle puncture disc degeneration model. The results of this study show the feasibility of restoring degenerative discs by a single injection of osteogenic protein-1 in the rabbit disc. The metabolic changes in cells, with a single injection, might be sustained and, thus, induce long-term changes in disc structure.