title: A simplified procedure for studies of intestinal immunity in rabbits.
abstract: As interest in the development of oral vaccines continues to rise, alternative animal models for studies of mucosal immunity are needed. The present study examines a simplified procedure for delivering antigen to rabbit Peyer's patches via an indwelling cannula. The cannula was placed 3-4 cm proximal to the Peyer's patch, and was used to deliver four weekly doses of the potent mucosal immunogen, cholera toxin (CT). Anti-CT specific fecal secretory IgA (S-IgA), serum IgG and serum IgA were found in essentially equal amounts in rabbits with cannulas and in rabbits fitted with Thiry-Vella (T-V) isolated ileal loops. In contrast to animals with T-V loops, the intestinal flora of animals with cannulas contained less bacterial overgrowth with Pseudomonas sp. Further, the villus architecture remained histologically normal in appearance and there were fewer post-surgical complications associated with this technique than with T-V loops. This simplified technique should allow wider use of rabbits in studies of mucosal immunity.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, Center for Environmental Health, Department of Animal Science, Storrs 06269, USA.
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: McAleer
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Silbart
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Van Kruiningen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koudelka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D002772:Cholera Toxin