胎儿生长迟缓症动物模型的复制

胎儿生长迟缓是发病率很高的出生缺陷病之一。近年我国很重视对出生缺陷病的研究和防治。研究胎儿生长迟缓的发病机制及病儿出生前后的治疗措施,需要动物模型。结扎孕鼠子宫角血管制造胎儿生长迟缓动物模型国外早有报道,但国内尚未见报道。本实验根据Wigglesworth(1974)报告的方法复制该模型,现报告如下:     

动物模型在肺部真菌病研究中的应用

真菌病成为日益严重的临床问题,深部真菌感染尤其是肺部真菌感染呈持续增多趋势。肺部真菌病往往发生于免疫低下或有基础疾病的患者,其具体发病机制尚不完全清楚。动物模型不仅为真菌病病因学研究提供有效的途径,还能在抗真菌药物、免疫调节剂及可能的疫苗的研究中提供多方面的帮助。动物实验中所观察到的病理改变可能对发病机理的探索有所帮助。实验动物研究有助于我们明晰各种参数的作用机理,比如抗原、暴露途径、基因背景即反应修饰在发病中的作用,进一步的,通过基因缺失或插入或结合,我们有可能了解某种特定的细胞、受体、介质在发病过程中的机理,其结果可能应用到人类疾病上。     

阻断子宫动脉建立FGR大鼠模型的研究

目的通过暂时阻断妊娠期大鼠子宫血供的方法建立子宫缺血引起胎儿生长受限的动物模型。方法根据大鼠子宫动脉是卵巢动脉的一个分支的解剖特点,于孕鼠妊娠第15天时施行手术暂时阻断卵巢动脉并于第21天行剖宫产术,术后称量新生胎仔体重及胎盘、脑、心、肝、肺、肾等重要脏器重量,对比各组间新生胎仔的预后的不同,并对照研究阻断血供10、20、30及40 min对胎仔的不同影响。结果妊娠晚期阻断孕鼠卵巢动脉20min可成功构建胎儿生长受限模型,这种方法与阻断动脉血流30或40 min相比,手术时间短,技术要求不高,胎仔死亡率与对照组差异无显著性(P>0.05)。各实验组较对照组新生胎仔体重及胎盘、各重要脏器重量均明显降低(P<0.05)。结论通过阻断卵巢动脉从而阻断子宫动脉血流,成功建立缺血缺氧性FGR孕鼠模型。该模型重复性好,操作简便,并可成功设立同体对照,为进行FGR相关的产科理论研究提供了一个有利的技术平台。     

丹参治疗胎儿生长受限的疗效分析

目的探讨丹参对胎儿生长受限(FGR)的疗效。方法选择我院及廊坊卫生职业学院2012年1月~2014年1月收治的产前检查诊断为FGR者71例,随机分成二组:实验组35例,对照组36例。对照组用能量合剂+复方氨基酸等药物静滴;实验组在对照组的基础上加用丹参注射液16ml静滴。结果实验组在胎儿双顶径(BPD)增长,脐动脉S/D比值下降较对照组疗效明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论丹参能有效改善子宫胎盘的血流灌注,促进胎儿生长,对治疗FGR有效。     

大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型的初步研究

目的构建大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型,观察评价该模型的临床及病理特点。方法利用磁片循环压迫的方法,构建大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型,并从整体,组织和生化三个层次对糖尿病溃疡进行了研究。结果构建出了一个可以复制的糖尿病溃疡动物模型,该模型具有组织坏死、白细胞聚集以及高浓度晚期糖化终末产物等特征。结论利用缺血再灌注法构建了大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型。其病理改变与人极为相似,是一种很好的用于糖尿病溃疡发病机制和治疗研究的动物模型。     

动脉粥样硬化动物模型制作方法的介绍

动脉粥样硬化动物模型在病因学、病理学及预防方面的研究中起着非常重要的作用。近年来,运用兔子、小鼠、大鼠、鹌鹑等成功地建立了大量高脂饲料、单纯药物、高脂饲料加药物、基因敲除鼠及基因工程模型等诱导的动物模型。本文介绍了这几种动物模型的制作方法,以期为动脉粥样硬化的深入研究提供参考。     

胎儿生长受限模型及其胎盘的病理学观察

目的证实胎儿生长受限大鼠模型的建立方法;观察胎儿生长受限(FGR)大鼠胎盘的组织形态及超微结构特征。方法健康Wistar雌鼠24只,按妊娠先后顺序随机分为两组:正常对照组(正常组)、模型组(烟酒处理组),采用烟酒混合因素建立大鼠FGR模型;比较两组胎鼠的体重、鼻臀长度、体重系数及FGR发生率,两组胎盘组织行HE染色,并应用光镜和电镜观察其病理变化。结果①模型组胎仔平均体重、鼻臀长度、体重系数较正常组分别减轻46.0%、21.9%、35.0%(P0.01)。对照组FGR发生率仅为12.5%,模型组FGR发生率为79.3%,显著高于对照组(P0.01)。②模型组胎盘形态学明显改变。结论通过烟酒干预的方法,成功建立缺血缺氧性FGR孕鼠模型。烟酒可导致胎盘形态结构的改变,这种病理改变是造成FGR胎盘功能减退的形态学基础。     

结核病动物模型研究进展

结核病是由结核分枝杆菌感染引起的传染病,是危害人类健康的主要传染病之一。动物模型已经成为研究人类传染病的标准化工具。虽然对于结核分枝杆菌而言并没有真正意义的动物资源,但由于不同种类的动物,对分枝杆菌的敏感性不一样,因此可以成为结核病研究的有利工具。结核病最常用的实验动物模型包括小鼠、兔和豚鼠。每种动物有其自身特点,但并不能完全模拟人类疾病。通过建立结核病的动物模型,可以大大增加我们对疾病的病因、毒力和发病机制的理解。除了这三种模型外,非人灵长类也常被用于结核病的研究。本文总结了这几种结核病模型的研究状况。     

过敏性哮喘动物模型在致敏、哮喘发作和气道高反应性等方面的应用研究

过敏性哮喘的发病率呈上升趋势。使用了几十年的主要治疗药物肾上腺糖皮质激素副作用较大,因此发现好的预防和治疗方法成为迫切要解决的问题。动物模型是研究人类疾病的重要手段,但不少疑难病的发病机理不明确,因而制备的动物模型和人类疾病的相似度有差异。但I型变态反应作为过敏性哮喘的发病机理是比较明确的,据此制备的动物模型和人类的哮喘就有很高的相近度,结果的可信度就较高。本文回顾了哮喘动物模型制备的基本方法和某些重要的细节。着重讨论了当今最常用的气道高反应性模型的优劣。如果综合运用不同特点的模型尤其是能观察记录哮喘发作全过程包括速发和迟发反应的模型,将可以更直接地探索哮喘发病过程和治疗药物。对气道重塑及基因敲除和转基因技术在动物模型中的研究和使用也做了一般性论述。动物模型将是一个有力的工具为最后有效地预防和治疗过敏性哮喘找到突破口。     

利用接种人体组织的SCID小鼠研究疱疹病毒的发病机理

人细胞巨化病毒(HCMV)和带状疱疹病毒(VZV)属于疱疹病毒家族。对于有免疫力的宿主,HCMV很少引起疾病症状,但对于有免疫损害和成长中的胎儿,HCMV是引起感染性疾病和死亡的主要病因。VZV感染可引起水痘和带状疱疹。由于这些种属特异性疱疹病毒不能感染其他动物,没有动物模型可用于发病机理的研究。移植了人免疫组织的严重联合免疫缺陷小鼠(SCID-hu)为这项研究提供了一个有价值的模型。我们用HCMV或VZV感染SCID-hu以调查在人胎儿胸腺/肝脏组织的发病机理。HCMV临床分离株能在SCID-hu小鼠的移植组织中复制达到较高的滴度。然而…     

Polymorphism in maternal LRP8 gene is associated with fetal growth

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects >200,000 pregnancies in the United States annually and is associated with increased perinatal mortality and morbidity, as well as poorer long-term health for infants with FGR compared with infants without FGR. FGR appears to be a complex trait, but the role of genetic factors in the development of FGR is largely unknown. We conducted a candidate-gene association study of birth weight and FGR in two independent study samples obtained at the Boston Medical Center. We first investigated the association between maternal genotypes of 68 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 41 candidate genes and fetal growth in a sample of 204 black women selected for a previous study of preeclampsia, 92 of whom had preeclampsia (characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine). We found significant association between SNP rs2297660 in the LRP8 gene and birth weight. Subsequently, we replicated the association in a larger independent sample of 1,094 black women; similar association between LRP8 and FGR was observed in this sample. The "A" allele at rs2297660 was associated with a higher standardized birth weight and a lower risk of FGR. Under the additive genetic model, each additional copy of the "A" allele reduced the risk of FGR by 33% (P<.05). In conclusion, results from the two independent samples of black women provide consistent evidence that SNP rs2297660 in LRP8 is associated with fetal growth.     

The role and regulation of IGFBP-1 phosphorylation in fetal growth restriction

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) increases the risk of perinatal complications and predisposes the infant to developing metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases in childhood and adulthood. The pathophysiology underlying FGR remains poorly understood and there is no specific treatment available. Biomarkers for early detection are also lacking. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is an important regulator of fetal growth. IGF-I is the primary regulator of fetal growth, and fetal circulating levels of IGF-I are decreased in FGR. IGF-I activity is influenced by a family of IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), which bind to IGF-I and decrease its bioavailability. During fetal development the predominant IGF-I binding protein in fetal circulation is IGFBP-1, which is primarily secreted by the fetal liver. IGFBP-1 binds IGF-I and thereby inhibits its bioactivity. Fetal circulating levels of IGF-I are decreased and concentrations of IGFBP-1 are increased in FGR. Phosphorylation of human IGFBP-1 at specific sites markedly increases its binding affinity for IGF-I, further limiting IGF-I bioactivity. Recent experimental evidence suggests that IGFBP-1 phosphorylation is markedly increased in the circulation of FGR fetuses suggesting an important role of IGFBP-1 phosphorylation in the regulation of fetal growth. Understanding of the significance of site-specific IGFBP-1 phosphorylation and how it is regulated to contribute to fetal growth will be an important step in designing strategies for preventing, managing, and/or treating FGR. Furthermore, IGFBP-1 hyperphosphorylation at unique sites may serve as a valuable biomarker for FGR.     

Tadalafil alleviates preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in RUPP model of preeclampsia in mice

Background– Tadalafil, a long-acting phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, alleviates preeclampsia (PE), and decreases the fetal and infant deaths associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) in phase II clinical trial. Recently, we demonstrated that tadalafil alleviates FGR and hypertension in the dams with PE induced by l-NAME.Objective–The aim of present study was to clarify the effect of tadalafil in another mouse model of PE, murine reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) model we have recently developed.Methods–At 14.5 dpc we performed RUPP operation in mice to induce PE, administered the animals with tadalafil or vehicle in the drinking water daily from 15.5 dpc, and sacrificed them at 18.5 dpc for analyses.Results–Tadalafil improved maternal hypertension and glomerular endotheliosis in RUPP mice. Moreover, tadalafil prolonged pregnancy period, and improved survival and growth of the embryos. RUPP increased content of sFlt-1 protein in the placenta, and tadalafil corrected it back to control levels.Conclusion– Tadalafil alleviates PE-like phenotype and FGR in RUPP murine model. RUPP model could help understand the mechanism of how tadalafil works on PE and FGR.     

Sildenafil Citrate Increases Fetal Weight in a Mouse Model of Fetal Growth Restriction with a Normal Vascular Phenotype

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is defined as the inability of a fetus to achieve its genetic growth potential and is associated with a significantly increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Clinically, FGR is diagnosed as a fetus falling below the 5^th centile of customised growth charts. Sildenafil citrate (SC, Viagra™), a potent and selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, corrects ex vivo placental vascular dysfunction in FGR, demonstrating potential as a therapy for this condition. However, many FGR cases present without an abnormal vascular phenotype, as assessed by Doppler measures of uterine/umbilical artery blood flow velocity. Thus, we hypothesized that SC would not increase fetal growth in a mouse model of FGR, the placental-specific Igf2 knockout mouse, which has altered placental exchange capacity but normal placental blood flow. Fetal weights were increased (by 8%) in P0 mice following maternal SC treatment (0.4 mg/ml) via drinking water. There was also a trend towards increased placental weight in treated P0 mice (P = 0.056). Additionally, 75% of the P0 fetal weights were below the 5^th centile, the criterion used to define human FGR, of the non-treated WT fetal weights; this was reduced to 51% when dams were treated with SC. Umbilical artery and vein blood flow velocity measures confirmed the lack of an abnormal vascular phenotype in the P0 mouse; and were unaffected by SC treatment. ¹⁴C-methylaminoisobutyric acid transfer (measured to assess effects on placental nutrient transporter activity) per g placenta was unaffected by SC, versus untreated, though total transfer was increased, commensurate with the trend towards larger placentas in this group. These data suggest that SC may improve fetal growth even in the absence of an abnormal placental blood flow, potentially affording use in multiple sub-populations of individuals presenting with FGR.     

Moderate Exercise Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Associated Maternal and Fetal Morbidities in Pregnant Rats

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) and coagulopathies are often associated with aberrant maternal inflammation. Moderate-intensity exercise during pregnancy has been shown to increase utero-placental blood flow and to enhance fetal nutrition as well as fetal and placental growth. Furthermore, exercise is known to reduce inflammation. To evaluate the effect of moderate-intensity exercise on inflammation associated with the development of maternal coagulopathies and FGR, Wistar rats were subjected to an exercise regime before and during pregnancy. To model inflammation-induced FGR, pregnant rats were administered daily intraperitoneal injections of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gestational days (GD) 13.5–16.5 and sacrificed at GD 17.5. Control rats were injected with saline. Maternal hemostasis was assessed by thromboelastography. Moderate-intensity exercise prevented LPS-mediated increases in white blood cell counts measured on GD 17.5 and improved maternal hemostasis profiles. Importantly, our data reveal that exercise prevented LPS-induced FGR. Moderate-intensity exercise initiated before and maintained during pregnancy may decrease the severity of maternal and perinatal complications associated with abnormal maternal inflammation.     

Elevated insulin sensitivity and β-cell function during pregnancy in mothers of growth-restricted newborns

The "Barker hypothesis" suggests that low birth weight might predict future risk of developing obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Identification of the causes of fetal growth restriction (FGR) is critical for preventive and management strategies. Some studies indicate that maternal carbohydrate metabolism might be involved in FGR development. We aimed to evaluate, in a large number of normotensive pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance, the effect of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function on unexplained fetal growth. A total of 1,814 Caucasian pregnant women with normal prepregnancy body mass index were tested with a 75-g, 2-h glucose load (24-28 gestation wk). Insulin sensitivity was evaluated with fasting (QUICKI) and dynamic index (OGIS) and β-cell function with a modified insulinogenic index as ΔAUC(insulin)/ΔAUC(glucose) and disposition index. FGR was a birth weight below the 5th percentile for gestational age. FGR developed in 99 (5.5%) pregnant women that showed significantly higher QUICKI, OGIS, insulinogenic, and disposition index with respect to women with normal-weight babies (P < 0.0001). By using multiple regression analysis in the FRG group, QUICKI and OGIS appeared as significant independent variables (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0366, respectively). We conclude that elevated insulin sensitivity seems to be one of the factors involved in determining unexplained fetal growth retardation; its assessment, even only in the fasting state, could be useful to guide any possible monitoring and therapeutic strategies to reduce fetal complications.     

Malaria in pregnancy: small babies, big problem

Placental malaria is hypothesized to lead to placental insufficiency, which causes fetal growth restriction (FGR). In this review, recent discoveries regarding the mechanisms of pathogenesis by which malaria causes FGR are discussed in the wider context of placental function and fetal growth. Placental malaria and associated host responses can induce changes in placental structure and function, affecting pregnancy-associated growth-regulating hormones and predisposing the offspring to hypertension and vascular dysfunction. Risk factors associated with FGR are highlighted, and potential interventions and studies to uncover remaining mechanisms of pathogenesis are proposed. Together, these strategies aim to decrease the burden of FGR associated with malaria in pregnancy.