A Rat Model of Pulmonary Infection After Cardiac Transplant

摘要

Objectives: Cardiac allograft rejection and infection are leading causes of morbidity and mortality after transplant. The lack of an animal model has hindered related research. We have developed a rat model of pulmonary infection after cardiac transplant to address this issue. Materials and Methods: Lewis rats received Wistar rat heart allografts, cardiac rejection was induced by cessation of cyclosporine injection, and pulmonary infection was induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa intrabronchial inoculation. Development of pul-monary infection and/or heart rejection was assessed by histopathology. Results: Histopathologic findings showed that a dose of 2 × 10 8 colony forming units of Pseudo-monas aeruginosa intrabronchial inoculation is sufficient to cause severe pneumonia without being lethal to transplanted animals. Daily administration of 10 mg/kg of cyclosporine reliably suppressed rejection, and withdrawal for 7 days can obtain a consistent International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 3R rejection. Conclusions: The current study represents a simple and effective rat model of pulmonary infection along, or in combination, with rejection after heart transplant, which can be used for research of infection-rejection in cardiac transplant settings.