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Preterm delivery in mice with renal abscess
G M Mussalli1, S R Brunnert, E Hirsch
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Objective:
Our purpose was to develop a mouse model of renal abscess to study the effect of extrauterine infection on preterm delivery.
Methods:
Escherichia coli or sterile medium was injected into the left kidney of 70 pregnant mice that had completed approximately 75% of gestation. Preterm delivery rates were recorded for various inocula. Kidney specimens were obtained and examined grossly and histologically for abscess formation.
Results:
Thirty-one of 51 animals (60.8%) infected with 1 x 10(5)-9 x 10(6) bacteria and none of 19 uninfected animals delivered prematurely (P < .001). Renal abscess was induced in 100% of mice receiving bacterial inoculation but in none receiving sterile medium.
Conclusion:
Kidney injection provides a reliable method for inducing renal abscess in pregnant mice. Renal abscess induces preterm delivery at a stable rate across a wide range of bacterial inocula. This model of extrauterine infection may be particularly useful in investigations of infection-induced preterm delivery.
Insights
Developing a renal abscess in pregnant mice using Escherichia coli reliably induced preterm birth. This new mouse model offers a valuable tool for studying extrauterine infection
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Infectious disease modeling
- Nephrology
Background:
- Preterm delivery remains a significant challenge in maternal-fetal medicine.
- Understanding the mechanisms of infection-induced preterm birth is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reproducible mouse model of renal abscess.
- To investigate the impact of extrauterine infection on preterm delivery.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant mice at 75% gestation received injections of Escherichia coli or sterile medium into the left kidney.
- Renal abscess formation was assessed via gross and histological examination.
- Preterm delivery rates were recorded based on bacterial inoculum size.
Main Results:
- Renal abscess was successfully induced in 100% of mice inoculated with bacteria.
- A significant preterm delivery rate (60.8%) was observed in infected mice compared to uninfected controls (P < .001).
- Preterm delivery occurred at a consistent rate across various bacterial concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Kidney injection is a reliable method for creating a renal abscess model in pregnant mice.
- This model effectively demonstrates that renal abscess can induce preterm delivery.
- The established model serves as a valuable platform for researching infection-induced preterm birth.