A new fetal rat model of gastroschisis: development and early characterization

The perinatal management and pathophysiology of gastroschisis remain controversial. Large animal experimental models of gastroschisis are inherently limited by expense and length of gestation, making multiple studies and statistical analysis difficult. To address these limitations the authors have developed a model of gastroschisis in the fetal rat.

Twenty-one time-dated pregnant rats underwent laparotomy at 18 (1/2) day's gestational age. The exposed uterus was bathed in ritodrine for tocolysis. The right posterior leg was exteriorized through a hysterotomy, and under a dissecting microscope (16x) the fetal small bowel was exteriorized through a small incision performed on the right lower abdominal quadrant. The amniotic fluid was restored with saline solution and the hysterotomy closed with a purse-string suture. Control fetuses underwent hysterotomy and leg manipulation only. The surgical time was uniformly less than 60 minutes. Fetuses were harvested by cesarean section at 21 (1/2) days' gestational age. Fetal intestine was assessed by microscopic examination, and fetal weight, intestinal length, and intestinal weight per unit length were evaluated.

There was a significant surgical and anesthetic learning curve, which is not included in this report. After this, the authors achieved a maternal survival of 100% (n = 21). We created gastroschisis in 64 fetuses (58 survivors, 90.6%), and 33 fetuses were only manipulated (30 survivors, 90.9%). The number of induced gastroschisis per pregnant rat varied between 2 and 5 with median of 3. On gross examination, eviscerated intestine appeared dilated, edematous, and covered by peel when compared with control intestine. Fetuses with gastroschisis had significantly reduced body weight (4.1+/-0.5 v 5.6 g +/- 0.5 g) and intestinal length (102+/-19 v 210+/-17 mm) relative to controls, whereas the intestinal weight per unit length (1.75+/-0.29 v 0.71 +/- 0.1 mg/mm) was markedly increased (P<.001).

The pathophysiology observed in this experimental model appears to resemble human gastroschisis. In comparison with large animal models, the rat model offers the advantages of low expense, short gestation, littermate controls, and high maternal and fetal survival rates. In addition, there are specific probes and reagents available for application of molecular methodology to clarify the mechanisms responsible for the intestinal damage. This model appears appropriate for future experimental studies on gastroschisis.