Abstract
Although experimental oral candidiasis was developed in a previously reported animal model using steroids, it was difficult to observe long-term changes because Candida spontaneously disappeared. Therefore, we attempted to induce Candida infection using cyclosporin A (CyA), which is an immuno-suppressant in mice, and observed the daily changes in oral mucosa. In this experimental trial, we administered CyA by cutaneous inoculation four times before and after infection with Candida albicans, and observed the oral cavity.
C. albicans-infected tongue was removed from sacrified mice and divided into two pieces; one of the pieces was examined for fungal infiltration and the other was examined for histopathological changes, such as hyphal invasion and epithelial thickness. Most fungi were detected on the fifth day after Candida inoculation before decreasing gradually, and most C. albicans had disappeared by the eleventh day. On histopathological investigation, hyphae and epithelial thickening were observed in the horny layer on the fifth day, and this epithelial thickening remained present on the eleventh day. In this mouse model of persistent oral candidiasis using immuno-suppressants, changes in the epithelium and fungal infiltration could be evaluated, thus suggesting the utility of this model.
