A method for chronic membrane plasmapheresis in the rat.
Therapeutic apheresis as applied to humans may encompass a single treatment or numerous treatments for disorders ranging from acute poisoning to severe chronic autoimmune disease. However, the mechanisms of beneficial effects of apheresis are not well characterized. Utilizing a miniaturized hollow-fiber membrane system, we have developed a reliable technique for long-term vascular access in the rat that permits repetitive plasmapheresis. We established vascular access in 14 animals, with 8 and 6 rats randomized to 3- and 7-wk experimental periods, respectively. Immunoglobulin levels of blood samples obtained immediately before and after each plasmapheresis were measured to examine membrane filtration characteristics. Overall, 100% of the animals survived and 93% successfully completed their assigned experimental periods. Mean decrease of immunoglobulin G and M levels for 28 plasmapheresis treatments in five rats was 66.9 +/- 8.1 and 61.0 +/- 7.3% (SD), respectively, indicating effective membrane filtration. This model of apheresis can be applied to several disorders in the rat, including, but not limited to, spontaneous insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and experimental inflammatory bowel disease.
Follette
D B
DB
Department of Medicine, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-5166.
Kerr
D
D
Nasca
T J
TJ
Euler
H H
HH
Pinevich
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014462:Ultrafiltration
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008567:Membranes, Artificial