A murine model for the study of the impact of Aspergillus fumigatus inoculation on the foeto-placental unit

Henrik Elvang Jensen*, Jann Hau

*Corresponding author for this work

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7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pregnant female BALB/c mice were inoculated intravenously with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia in different concentrations (1×101-1×108) on day 10 of pregnancy. Pregnancy was confirmed by the presence of murine alpha-fetoprotein (m-AFP) in the maternal circulation. Conidia inoculation of 1×103 and greater significantly (p<0.0001) resulted in abortion or placental lesions. Uterine cell infiltrations were recognized in 75% of the mice which aborted following the inoculation of 1×103 conidia or more. In the placental lesions of mice inoculated with 0.5-1×108 conidia, hyphae, haemorrhage, thrombosis, necrosis, calcification, and inflammation were regular findings. Histopathology of other maternal organs revealed that extrauterine organ lesions were closely correlated with the dose of conidia inoculated, and the following pattern of reaction was found: liver > lung > kidney > brain > heart.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMycopathologia
Volume112
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)11-18
Number of pages8
ISSN0301-486X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 1990

Keywords

  • aspergillosis
  • Aspergillus fumigatus
  • foeto-placental unit
  • murine model
  • mycotic abortion

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