Simple animal model of Helicobacter pylori infection

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Animal Models

Background:

• Helicobacter pylori is a recognized pathogen linked to gastritis and ulcers.
• Developing reliable animal models is crucial for studying H. pylori pathogenesis.
• Existing models may have limitations in replicating chronic infection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a straightforward and reproducible rat model for chronic Helicobacter pylori infection.
• To validate the model's efficacy through microbiological and histopathological assessments.
• To provide a tool for investigating gastric microcirculation and therapeutic interventions.

Main Methods:

• Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with streptomycin to facilitate infection.
• Rats received H. pylori via oral gavage over three consecutive days.
• Infection success was confirmed using urease tests and histopathological analysis of stomach tissues.

Main Results:

• A successful H. pylori infection rate of 69.8%–83.0% was achieved.
• Urease tests and H&E staining confirmed bacterial presence and infection.
• Histopathology revealed bacteria in the gastric lining and mild to moderate inflammation.

Conclusions:

• A simple and effective rat model for chronic H. pylori infection has been developed.
• This model is suitable for studying gastric microcirculatory changes.
• The model can be utilized for evaluating the efficacy of plant-derived products as therapies.