폐포자층 폐렴의 실험적 모델

Abstract

Pneumocystis carinii (P. carinii) is an opportunistic pathogen which causes pneumonia in the lungs of immunocompromised patients. Since the organism has not been successfully propagated in vitro, many investigators have been restricted to in vivo models for studing the P. carinii organisms. This study was carried out to investigate more desirable animal model of P . carinii pneumonia and to observe morphologic characteristics in the animal model of rats. After six weeks of administration of 8% low protein diet, dexamethasone, tetracycline, and nystatin, the Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed to submit lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage for the study. We compared between the oral administration and intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone to the experimental rats. The oral administration of dexamethasone was more effective than the intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone for the survival rates and detection rates of P. carinii in the rats. The survival rates and detection rates of P. carinii were similar between the group of intratracheal injection of P. carinii plus oral dexamethasone administration and the group of only oral dexamethasone administration. These results indicated that the oral administration of dexamethasone in the experimental rats is more convenient and effective method to make a desirable P. carinii animal model and to observe morphologic characteristics of P. carinii pneumonia in rats.