Genital Mycoplasmosis in Rats: A Model for Intrauterine Infection¹

Abstract

Mycoplasma pulmonis is an ideal model to study maternal genital infection during pregnancy, the impact of infections on pregnancy outcome, fetal infection, and maternal-fetal immune interactions.

Rat Strains Differ in Susceptibility to Maternal and Fetal Infection with Mycoplasma pulmonis

“…Mycoplasma pulmonis UAB strain × 1048 was originally obtained from Maureen K. Davidson, University of Florida. Genital disease in SD rats with this mycoplasma strain is well characterized 5–9 . In order to ensure identical inocula for all experiments, a large‐volume culture was grown to late log phase in Frey's medium, aliquoted and frozen at −80°C.…”

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that intravenous inoculation at day 14 of gestation is the most efficient time point for inducing fetal infection 9 . Female rats at day 14 of gestation were anesthetized with a ketamine (Ketaset, Bristol Laboratories, Syracuse, NY, USA) xylazine (Rompun, Haver‐Lockhart, Shawnee, KS, USA) cocktail (100 mg ketamine + 150 mg xylazine) administered intraperitoneally at a dosage of 0.1 mL/100 g of body weight.…”

“…Mycoplasma pulmonis genital tract infection in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats is an established model for understanding the host–pathogen relationships of genital mycoplasmosis on pregnancy outcome 5–9 . Intrauterine infection can be established through both hematogenous and intravaginal inoculation 5–9 .…”

“…Mycoplasma pulmonis genital tract infection in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats is an established model for understanding the host–pathogen relationships of genital mycoplasmosis on pregnancy outcome 5–9 . Intrauterine infection can be established through both hematogenous and intravaginal inoculation 5–9 . Once infected, dams develop varying complications similar to ureaplasmal‐associated reproductive disease of humans, including chorioamnionitis, fetal infection of the lung and central nervous system, low birth weight, and fetal and neonatal death 6,7,9 .…”

“…Intrauterine infection can be established through both hematogenous and intravaginal inoculation 5–9 . Once infected, dams develop varying complications similar to ureaplasmal‐associated reproductive disease of humans, including chorioamnionitis, fetal infection of the lung and central nervous system, low birth weight, and fetal and neonatal death 6,7,9 . Different rat strains have varying susceptibility and degree of complications to genital mycoplasmosis.…”