Transplacental Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection in SCID Mice
Author Information
Author(s): Woolf Nigel K, Jaquish Dawn V, Koehrn Fred J
Primary Institution: University of California Medical School at San Diego
Hypothesis
SCID mice might be more vulnerable to transplacental MCMV transmission.
Conclusion
Severe immunodeficiencies in SCID mice significantly enhance the rate of natural MCMV transplacental transmission and congenital infection.
Supporting Evidence
- SCID mice were highly susceptible to natural MCMV transplacental transmission.
- Transplacental MCMV transmission was confirmed in E18 fetuses from SCID mice injected with MCMV.
- The maximum rate of transplacental MCMV transmission occurred when SCID mouse dams were injected at E4.
- Congenital infection was confirmed by immunostaining of MCMV antigens in 26% of MCMV positive fetuses.
- Transplacental MCMV transmission was associated with intrauterine growth retardation and microcephaly.
- IL-1α expression was significantly upregulated in MCMV infected fetal brains.
Takeaway
When pregnant SCID mice get infected with a virus called MCMV, it can pass to their babies through the placenta, which can cause problems like smaller brains.
Methodology
Timed-pregnant SCID mice were injected with MCMV at different embryonic stages, and vertical transmission was evaluated using nested PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical assays.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the specific use of SCID mice which may not fully represent immunocompetent responses.
Limitations
The study did not examine the maternal viral load and the extent of transplacental transmission dependency.
Participant Demographics
C.B-17 SCID mice of both sexes, aged 10-14 weeks.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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