Skip to main content
Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology logoLink to Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
. 1994;2(2):60–70. doi: 10.1155/S1064744994000414

Animal Models of Ascending Genital-Tract Infection in Pregnancy

Robert S McDuffie Jr 1,3, Ronald S Gibbs 2
PMCID: PMC2364364  PMID: 18475368

Abstract

This article reviews animal models currently used for investigation of ascending genital-tract infection in pregnancy. The specific models reviewed are those in the rabbit, monkey, and mouse. These models investigate both the direct effects of bacteria in the setting of ascending infection and the role of cytokines produced by the immune system. For each model, experiments that delineate the pathophysiology of ascending genital-tract infection in pregnancy are described. Intervention experiments, including the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, immunotherapy, and anti-cytokine therapy, are described. Comparison of these models is made with respect to pathogenesis in humans, reproducibility, anatomy, and cost.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.0 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Dombroski R. A., Woodard D. S., Harper M. J., Gibbs R. S. A rabbit model for bacteria-induced preterm pregnancy loss. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990 Dec;163(6 Pt 1):1938–1943. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(90)90777-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Field N. T., Newton E. R., Kagan-Hallet K., Peairs W. A. Perinatal effects of Gardnerella vaginalis deciduitis in the rabbit. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993 Mar;168(3 Pt 1):988–994. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(12)90858-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Gendron R. L., Nestel F. P., Lapp W. S., Baines M. G. Lipopolysaccharide-induced fetal resorption in mice is associated with the intrauterine production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha. J Reprod Fertil. 1990 Nov;90(2):395–402. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0900395. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Gibbs R. S., Romero R., Hillier S. L., Eschenbach D. A., Sweet R. L. A review of premature birth and subclinical infection. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992 May;166(5):1515–1528. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(92)91628-n. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Heddleston L., McDuffie R. S., Jr, Gibbs R. S. A rabbit model for ascending infection in pregnancy: intervention with indomethacin and delayed ampicillin-sulbactam therapy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993 Sep;169(3):708–712. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(93)90647-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Larsen J. W., Jr, Harper J. S., 3rd, London W. T., Baker C. J., Curfman B. L., Kasper D. L., Sever J. L. Antibody to type III group B Streptococcus in the rhesus monkey. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1983 Aug 15;146(8):958–962. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(83)90973-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Larsen J. W., Jr, London W. T., Baker C. J., Curfman B. L., Sever J. L. Intraamniotic infection due to group G streptococcus: treatment and antibody response. Obstet Gynecol. 1981 Aug;58(2):222–226. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Larsen J. W., Jr, London W. T., Palmer A. E., Tossell J. W., Bronsteen R. A., Daniels M., Curfman B. L., Sever J. L. Experimental group B streptococcal infection in the rhesus monkey. I. Disease production in the neonate. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1978 Nov 15;132(6):686–690. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(78)90865-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. McDuffie R. S., Jr, Blanton S. J., Shikes R. H., Gibbs R. S. A rabbit model for bacterially induced preterm pregnancy loss: intervention studies with ampicillin-sulbactam. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Nov;165(5 Pt 1):1568–1574. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(91)90406-h. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McDuffie R. S., Jr, Sherman M. P., Gibbs R. S. Amniotic fluid tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 in a rabbit model of bacterially induced preterm pregnancy loss. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992 Dec;167(6):1583–1588. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(92)91745-v. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Romero R., Mazor M., Tartakovsky B. Systemic administration of interleukin-1 induces preterm parturition in mice. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Oct;165(4 Pt 1):969–971. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(91)90450-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Romero R., Tartakovsky B. The natural interleukin-1 receptor antagonist prevents interleukin-1-induced preterm delivery in mice. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992 Oct;167(4 Pt 1):1041–1045. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(12)80035-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES