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Computerized three-dimensional study of a rotavirus model of biliary atresia: comparison with human biliary atresia

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Abstract

Biliary atresia is a panbiliary disease causing obstructive jaundice in neonates and infants. The clinical spectrum can be broadly categorized into the fetal and perinatal types. A consistent animal model that accurately mimics the whole clinical spectrum of biliary atresia is not yet available. However, rotavirus infection of neonatal mice has been shown to produce atresia in the biliary system. This study investigates the three-dimensional computerized morphology of the murine neonatal model comparing with age-matched control mice. Newborn Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with rhesus rotavirus within 24–48 h after birth. Control mice received 0.9% NaCl. Pups with symptoms of cholestasis were sacrificed from the 5th to the 15th postinjection day, as were age-matched controls. Their hepatobiliary tissues were prepared for three-dimensional computerized image reconstruction. Rotavirus infection caused obliteration of the intrahepatic bile ducts and single to multiple atresias in the extrahepatic bile duct. At 15 days postinjection, intrahepatic ductal proliferation appeared, and the three-dimensional appearances of the intrahepatic biliary structures were similar to the human disease. Cystic duct and gallbladder dilatation was frequently seen in this model, and this feature distinguishes it from the human disease in which the gallbladder is almost always atretic. This rotavirus murine model demonstrates many of the features of human perinatal biliary atresia, and can be used as an investigative tool to further study the pathogenesis of biliary atresia.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Ms Caroline Ong and Ms Peizhen Hu for their help with tissue sectioning and staining.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road,  , Singapore, 229899

    Regina Y. Y. Chan & Carolyn E. L. Tan

  2. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Gerard Czech-Schmidt & Claus Petersen

  3. Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUH Main Building # 03-31, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road,  , Singapore, 119074

    Regina Y. Y. Chan

Authors
  1. Regina Y. Y. Chan
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  2. Carolyn E. L. Tan
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  3. Gerard Czech-Schmidt
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  4. Claus Petersen
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Correspondence to Regina Y. Y. Chan.

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Chan, R.Y.Y., Tan, C.E.L., Czech-Schmidt, G. et al. Computerized three-dimensional study of a rotavirus model of biliary atresia: comparison with human biliary atresia. Ped Surgery Int 21, 615–620 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-005-1483-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-005-1483-9

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