Abstract: Objective: To study aggrecan, collagen type I and collagen type II gene expression of intervertebral disk degeneration through destroying bilateral zygapophysial joints of New-Zealand rabbit. Methods 30 male New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into operation group on the bone and operation group on the soft tissue. In operation group on the bone, L4 and L5 inferior articular processes were en bloc excised, L5 and L6 superior articular processes were retained. In the operation group on the soft-tissue, Only L3 to L7 paravertebral muscles was stripped. In operation group on the bone, L4-5 and L5-6 intervertebral disks were acted as experimental group; L3-4 and L6-7 acted as self-control group. In the operation on the soft tissue, L4-5 and L5-6 were acted as experimental control group. One、two、four and eight months post-operation, New-Zealand rabbits were killed. Aggrecan, collagen type I and collagen type II gene expression were performed with semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Aggrecan and collagen type II mRNA levels had decreased markedly, whereas type I collagen mRNA gradually increased with time. At the same time point, aggrecan, collagen type II gene expression were the least in experiment group, whereas were most in the experiment-control group. Collagen type I showed the contra-tendency. Conclusions Intervertebral disk degeneration can be induced through destroying L4-5 and L5-6 zygapophysial joints of New-Zealand rabbit.Aggrecan, collagen type I and collagen type II gene expression can reflect intervertebral disk degeneration.