Establishment of a model ofNeospora caninuminfection in pregnant mice
Establishment of a model ofNeospora caninuminfection in pregnant mice
复制标题
妊娠小鼠犬新孢子虫感染模型的建立。
DOI：
10.1007/s00436-020-06903-0
复制
发表时间：
2020-10-03
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Zhang, Shuang
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Jia, Lijun;Xie, Suzhu;Zhang, Shuang
The aim of this study was to establish an animal model ofNeospora caninuminfection in pregnant BALB/c mice infected with different doses ofN. caninumtachyzoites. After infection, the female BALB/c mice were housed with male BALB/c mice. The aim of this study was to observe clinical signs and pathological changes, detectNc5gene expression in the main organs, and measure the wet weight and coefficient of the placenta of the pregnant mice. In addition, the level of cytokines and placental hormones in the serum was measured in pregnant mice. Our results showed that the optimal dose of the mice in the infected model was 10(5)tachyzoites. The infected pregnant mice presented with various clinical signs, including depression, ataxia, and variable mortality. Pathological observations of the brain, liver, and spleen in the mice exhibited hyperemia, bleeding, and swelling. Moreover,N. caninumtissue cysts or tachyzoites were observed in the brain, liver, and spleen tissues by hematoxylin-eosin (HE). TheNc5gene was detected in the brain, liver, spleen, and placental tissues of the mice. With the increase in infection days, the weight of the placenta in the model mice increased, and the placenta ratio decreased gradually. Compared with the control group, the placenta weight and placental ratio were significantly different (P< 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of the placental hormones, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), chorionic gonadotropin (CG), prolactin (PRL), and estriol (E3), and cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-4, and TGF-beta were differentially expressed between the model and the control group (P< 0.05 orP< 0.01), which indicated that infection withN. caninumcaused an imbalance in the regulatory function of the placental hormones and cytokines in pregnant mice. A pregnant mouse model ofN. caninuminfection was successfully established in this study, providing a foundation for the study of the pathogenic mechanisms ofN. caninum.
