Mouse model of Aspergillus and Alternaria induced rhinosinusitis

Fungi are known to induce the production of chemical mediators from respiratory epithelial cells and have been increasingly recognized as important pathogens in sinusitis. However, the exact role of fungi in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis has not been clearly established. This study was performed to improve our understanding of the role of fungi in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis by developing an animal model of fungus induced rhinosinusitis.

Fifty mice (C57BL6/J) were divided into five groups. Sham-operated group was the first group. In the second group, Aspergillus versicolor (Group IIa) and Alternaria alternata (Group IIb) (10(6)spores/ml) were inoculated into the nasal cavity. In the third group, fungi were inoculated into the nasal cavity in the presence of mucosal scratch (Group IIIa,b) and the fourth group was a nasal mucosal scratch only (Group IV). The fifth was a negative control (Group V). The fungi were inoculated once a week on six occasions and then the animals were sacrificed at 7 weeks. The histological sections were examined in a blind manner for the appearance of neutrophil clusters and epithelial thickness with hematoxylin-eosin stain, and mucus secreting glands using the Alcian blue/periodic acid Schiff stain.

Non-invasive fungal sinusitis had been induced with increased numbers of neutrophil clusters after Aspergillus and Alternaria exposure. The mice with the mucosal scratch wounds had significantly more inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial thickening; but eosinophils were not commonly found. The mice with fungal sinusitis had goblet cell hyperplasia and increased mucus secretion in the sinonasal cavity.

Inoculation of fungi in the nasal cavity induced rhinosinusitis in C57BL6/J mice. This mouse model may be used for better understanding of the role of fungi in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis.