Seminar - Use in Research

Question 1

Describe the cholesterol-fed rabbit model.

Answer 1

Feed diet with 1-3% cholesterol and 4-8% fat for 4-6 weeks. Watch length of diet due to risk of hepatic lipidosis and metabolic syndrome. Evaluate treatments.

Question 2

What is the trend towards rabbit use in research? Where do they rank among USDA species in use?

Answer 2

Decrease. Rank second, behind GP

Question 3

Describe the spontaneous hypercholesterolemic/hyperlipidemic strains?

Answer 3

Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic (WHHL) strain - spontaneous familial hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerotic lesions in aorta, coronary arteries (WHHL-CA), and cholesterol deposits in skin, liver, joints, and cornea.
St. Thomas Mixed Hyperlipidemic (SMHL) - human familial hypercholesterolemia
Kurosawa and Kusanagi Hypercholesterolemic strain - Atherosclerosis at 2 months old.
Development of anti-atherosclerotic statin drugs.

Question 4

How do human and rabbit lipoprotein and cardiac physiology compare?

Answer 4

Similar chemical composition and content of lipoproteins. Similar cardiac physiology.

Question 5

What conditions are hypercholesterolemic rabbits used to study?

Answer 5

Valvular heart disease, alzheimer, and NASH/NOSH

Question 6

Describe myocardial infarction and reperfusion or acute coronary syndrome in rabbits.

Answer 6

Infarct induced by snaring LCA for 30-90 minutes. Study cardioprotective effects of various methods.

Question 7

WHHL rabbits can also be selectively bred to develop what condition?

Answer 7

Myocardial infarcts. 97% develop coronary artery disease by 30 months.

Question 8

Describe the bacterial endocarditis model

Answer 8

Induced surgically or via ventricular catheterization. Evaluate antibiotic therpaies.

Question 9

What is acute coronary syndrome?

Answer 9

Plaques rupture and block the coronary artery.

Question 10

Why is the rabbit eye an appropriate model for human ocular conditions?

Answer 10

Similar sized anterior chamber.

Question 11

Describe the cataract model

Answer 11

Development of treatment and protection against radiation-induced lens damage. Surgical model for removal of cataract and replacement with intraocular lenses

Question 12

Describe the glaucoma model

Answer 12

Induced via corticosteroids or intraocular injection of alpha-chymotrypsin (pancreatic enzyme). Model for surgical and medical treatment.

Question 13

Describe the rabbit model of uveitis

Answer 13

Endotoxin-induced with intravitreal injection of E. coli endotoxin. Pre-clinical trials for treatment of anterior uveitis.

Question 14

Describe the model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Answer 14

Induced via gas vitrectomy or mechanized vitrectomy, followed by injection of cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. Pathogenesis and novel treatments.

Question 15

Name and describe the two CNS diseases studied in rabbits

Answer 15

Coccidiomycosis - inoculated with C. immitis.
Listeriosis - inoculation in cisterna magna with L. monocytogenes. Rabbits do not contract orally or display signs as in humans.

Question 16

Describe the model of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. What makes rabbits a good model?

Answer 16

Human and rabbits have similar nasal passage anatomy with nasal fossa separated by a sagittal septum with similar turbinates. Sponge impregnated with bacteria placed in nasal passage, used to practice catheterization techniques to deliver topical therapies.

Question 17

List and describe the two respiratory diseases studied in rabbits.

Answer 17

Anthrax - development of vaccine.
TB - disease in rabbits better mimics humans than mice and GP. Induced via aerosolization.

Question 18

Describe the RITARD model.

Answer 18

Removable Intestinal Tie-Adult Rabbit Diarrhea. Obstruction created in small intestine for two hours, then removed with oral inoculation or injection of bacteria.

Question 19

Describe the RIL model.

Answer 19

Rabbit Illeal Loop. Ligation of ileum to inhibit peristalsis followed by inoculation with C. jejuni. Model of Guilian-Barre syndrome.

Question 20

Describe the endotoxemia model

Answer 20

Induced via IC injection of E. coli or LPS. Rabbits are more sensitive to effects of endotoxin. Used in treatment efficacy trials.

Question 21

Describe osteomyelitis and implant-related infection models.

Answer 21

Typically use femur to study systemic and local therapeutics.

Question 22

Describe the variola model

Answer 22

Rabbits are the only model for human smallpox with natural aerosol transmission. Infected with rabbitpox or vaccinia virus which behave similarly.

Question 23

What is the rabbit infectivity test (RIT)?

Answer 23

Rabbits are inoculated intradermally or intra-scrotally with samples of the bacteria. Positive with orchitis, ocular inflammation, and confirmation on dark field and silver stain. Not as sensitive as it was once considered. No neuropathy develops.

Question 24

Describe the VX2 carcinoma

Answer 24

Model of transplantable malignancy. Originated from Shope’s papillomavirus that progressed to SCC, then to axillary ln. 90% take without immunosuppression.

Question 25

How are keratoacanthomas and SCC of the ear induced?

Answer 25

DiMethylBenzathracene (DMBA). Also induces skin and mammary tumors

Question 26

How are osteosarcomas induced?

Answer 26

Beryllium salt or radiation

Question 27

What are the mechanisms of action of an adjuvant? (5)

Answer 27

1. Depot
2. Antigen presentation
3. Antigen distribution
4. Immune modulation
5. Cytokine lymphocyte induction effect

Question 28

Describe the rabbit pyrogenicity test

Answer 28

Detects rise in body temperature following IV administration of test agent.

Question 29

What are restrictions on the rabbit pyrogen test? (4)

Answer 29

1. Does not exceed 10 mL/kg
2. No more than every 48 hours
3. Not within 2 weeks following temp increase of 0.6 C
4. If any temp increases >0.5 C, five additional rabbits tested