Morphological modifications of the choroid plexus in a rodent model of acute ventriculitis induced by gram-negative liquoral sepsis

Abstract

Gram-negative bacterial infections of the central nervous system are generally associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In patients with ventriculitis induced by gram-negative liquoral sepsis, a reduction in cerebrospinal fluid formation has been reported, suggesting that gram-negative ventriculitis is able per se to alter the normal functioning of the choroid plexus. The aim of the present study was to analyse, for the first time in the rat, the effects of acute ventriculitis on the ultrastructure of the choroid plexus. A simple and inexpensive experimental model of acute ventriculitis was developed: we injected into the cisterna magna of rats 10(3) CFU of live Escherichia coli, inducing septic ventriculitis without major neurological deficits. Histological examinations of rodent choroid plexus 24 h after the injection revealed patches of altered epithelium, with swollen and vacuolated ependymal cells associated with leukocyte infiltration. Electron microscopy demonstrated a reduced number of microvilli and flattening of the epithelial surface. These results (a) indicate that gram-negative septic ventriculitis is able to induce visible ultrastructural alterations of the choroid plexus which (b) are consistent with a picture of marked reduction of the functioning epithelial choroid plexus surface, and (c) highlight the potential usefulness of our rodent acute ventriculitis model for developing treatment modalities.

Prolonged hydrocephalus induced by intraventricular hemorrhage in rats is reduced by curcumin therapy

“…Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus is usually ascribed to multiple impairing factors, including iron overload [5], peri-ventricular leukocyte infiltration [2] and subependymal gliosis [6], all of which participate in BBB destruction. The previous study on animal model corroborated the persistent existence of intraventricular iron overload in chronic phase of IVH [4].…”

Cerebrospinal fluid hypersecretion in pediatric hydrocephalus

“…3,4,14,18,20,27,38,40,46,55,56,90,96,102,117,123,127 After surgical intervention (e.g., CPC or tumor removal), the rates of CSF production decreased, 4,20,35,46,51,90,96,117 and in some cases, there was no further need for a shunt. 27,51,56 In addition to CPP and CPH, overproduction of CSF contributing to hydrocephalus has also been implicated in idiopathic intracranial hypertension, 59 infectious hydrocephalus, 16 and intraventricular hemorrhage-associated hydrocephalus, 126 but secretion rates in the patients with these conditions have not been well documented.…”

“…Next-generation DNA sequencing of humans with developmental hydrocephalus and of those with CPP or CPH with hydrocephalus, coupled with modeling these disease-causing mutations in mice with CRISPR/CAS gene editing, might help uncover novel mediators and regulators of CSF homeostasis. In addition to CPP and CPH, CSF secretion and ion-transport mechanisms should be studied in other types of hydrocephalus, especially those associated with inflammation, such as infectious hydrocephalus 16 and intraventricular hemorrhage-associated hydrocephalus. 126 Another important line of investigation is for how to improve the drugs that are directed at known targets of CSF secretion, including NKCC1, AQP1, NCBE, AE2, and the V1a vasopressin receptors.…”

The efficacy of silver-embedded polypropylene-grafted polyethylene glycol-coated ventricular catheters on prevention of shunt catheter infection in rats

“…For these reasons, we chose rats [14,38] as an experimental test subject, since they are easily found and more resistible to infections. The great cistern is determined as the entry point for placing catheter pieces, because it is easy to expose and has the greatest space bearing CSF [7,19,28]. In order to mimic the human ventriculoperitoneal shunt model, we have implanted half of the catheter into the great cistern with the other half 0.5 cm left in between the muscle layer.…”

“…Therefore, there is a need for an easier and faster ventriculoperitoneal shunt model which can be applicable to any kind of animal, especially nonhydrocephalic rats. The great cistern is a favorable area in rats as being a large and easily accessible CSF cavity [7,44]. Moreover, the great cistern is a safe point for CSF collection [17,22].…”