The　establishment　of　a　reliable　animal　model　of　lumbar　disc　degeneration　(AMDD)　is　important　for　studying　pathogenesis　and　evaluating　treatment　effectiveness.　However,　an　ideal　AMDD　for　use　in　laboratory　studies　has　not　yet　been　produced.　This　retrospective　study　reviews　and　compares　several　common　AMDD　and　discusses　their　strengths　and　weaknesses.　We　also　suggest　a　new　method　for　establishing　future　AMDD.　The　identified　genes　associated　with　disc　degeneration　are　susceptibility　genes,　which　elevate　risk　but　do　not　necessarily　lead　to　disease　occurrence.　We　propose　to　identify　families　with　hereditary　disc　degeneration,　find　major　casual　genes　with　exome　sequencing,　and　establish　transgenic　animal　models.　This　approach　may　help　us　to　build　an　improved　AMDD.