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Updated: Jan 6, 2026
A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis
Published on: January 7, 2018
A Gunn rat model of preterm hyperbilirubinemia
Jaylyn Waddell1, Min He1, Ningfeng Tang1
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Background:
The impact of bilirubin in preterm infants is poorly understood. An animal model would assist in improving understanding. The Gunn rat lacks uridine diphosphate-glucuronylsyl transferase 1 and can be made acutely hyperbilirubinemic by injection of sulfodimethoxine (sulfa), a drug that displaces bilirubin from albumin and thus increases free bilirubin.
Methods:
On postnatal day (P) 5, Gunn rats either heterozygous (Nj) or homozygous (jj) for glucuronosyltransferase activity were injected with either saline or sulfa. Behavior and cerebellar weight were measured.
Results:
Pups did not show any signs of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Pup weight dropped significantly on P8 only in the jj-sulfa group. Behavior was affected only in the jj-sulfa group. Cerebellar weight was significantly less in the jj-sulfa group.
Conclusion:
The Gunn rat pup model may be a good model to study hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants.
