Objective To elucidate the expression characteristics of aquaporin 1 in the intervertebral discs of degeneration.Methods The animal model of lumbar intervertebral discs degeneration was constructed by destroying the balance of lumbar stabilization,the reliability of the animal model was evaluated by X-ray inspection.The tissue of lumbar intervertebral discs was collected,the expression of AQP1 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results By lumbar discquilibrium,the rattus model of lumbar intervertebral discs degeneration were set up.Following the process of degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs,the expression of AQP1 was descendent gradually at the mRNA and protein level.In experimental group,it decreased significantly at postoperative three months(P0.05),especially at postoperative six and nine months(P0.01);but in the control group,It only decreased at postoperative 6 months(P0.05).Conclusion Aquaporin 1 is involved in the development of intervertebral discs degeneration,the down regulation of the expression of AQP1 may be one of the reasons of causing the degeneration of intervertebral discs.