Lack of suitability of the rabbit model for particulate uterine artery embolization.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to evaluate the rabbit model for studies of particulate uterine artery embolization (UAE). Rabbits were chosen because it was believed that their year-round breeding time and short duration of pregnancy would be useful in studies of fertility and pregnancy after UAE.


METHODS
Bilateral UAE was performed in 12 adult female New Zealand White rabbits weighing 4-5.2 kg. All animals were proven to be breeders before treatment. Each uterine artery was embolized to stasis with use of 180-300- microm polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles (n = 9 animals), 500-710- microm PVA particles (n = 1), or tris-acryl 500-700- microm gelatin microspheres (n = 2).


RESULTS
Two rabbits died 7 days after embolization and the other 10 rabbits had to be killed because of malaise and weight loss 4-8 d after embolization. In all animals, necropsy demonstrated extensive uterine necrosis sparing only the tip of the uterine horn.


CONCLUSIONS
Rabbits are an unsuitable model for studies of UAE with the embolic agents in clinical use.
Binkert
Christoph A
CA
Dotter Interventional Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA. binkert@compuserve.com
Andrews
Robert T
RT
Pavcnik
Dusan
D
Uchida
Barry
B
Loriaux
Marc M
MM
Toyota
Naoyuki
N
Rösch
Josef
J
D000792:Angiography; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D004617:Embolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D023421:Models, Animal; D009336:Necrosis; D011817:Rabbits; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*