EXPERIMENTAL INTRAUTERINE INFECTION IN RATS AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF CEFOTAXIME (CTX) ON THE INFECTION

Abstract

Intrauterine infection was induced experimentally in rats, and the therapeutic effects of antibiotics (CTX and cefazolin (CEZ)) on the infection were determined to examine the availability of such animals as the experimental model.
Virgin rats, and rats delivered the day before and 4 days before the test were used. The cervix of each animal was ligatured, and E. coli suspension mixed with 5% mucin was injected into both uterine horns. Among such infected uteri, the uterus in the group delivered 4 days before the test was in optimal conditions for bacterial growth. Histologically, the uterus of these cases showed inflammatory changes in the endometrium and neutrophil infiltration into the lumen and gland.
When the two antibiotics were intravenously administered to the animals infected as above, therapeutic effects were shown apparently with both drugs, and CTX was more effective than CEZ. Thus, such animals may serve as the model with which in vivo effects of antibiotics can be estimated.