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. 2020 Feb;87(3):480-484.
doi: 10.1038/s41390-019-0599-x. Epub 2019 Oct 2.

A Gunn rat model of preterm hyperbilirubinemia

Jaylyn Waddell  1 , Min He  1 , Ningfeng Tang  1 , Christian Rizzuto  1 , Cynthia F Bearer  2
Affiliations

A Gunn rat model of preterm hyperbilirubinemia

Jaylyn Waddell et al. Pediatr Res. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The impact of bilirubin in preterm infants is poorly understood. An animal model would assist in improving understanding. The Gunn rat lacks uridine diphosphate-glucuronylsyl transferase 1 and can be made acutely hyperbilirubinemic by injection of sulfodimethoxine (sulfa), a drug that displaces bilirubin from albumin and thus increases free bilirubin.

Methods: On postnatal day (P) 5, Gunn rats either heterozygous (Nj) or homozygous (jj) for glucuronosyltransferase activity were injected with either saline or sulfa. Behavior and cerebellar weight were measured.

Results: Pups did not show any signs of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Pup weight dropped significantly on P8 only in the jj-sulfa group. Behavior was affected only in the jj-sulfa group. Cerebellar weight was significantly less in the jj-sulfa group.

Conclusion: The Gunn rat pup model may be a good model to study hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Pup weight, g, mean +/− SEM, from Day of Birth (postnatal day (P) 0) until P30. Genotypes: Nj – heterozygous Gunn rat pups, jj – homozygous Gunn rat pups. Treatments: Saline – saline given on P5, sulfa – sulfodimethoxine given on P5.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) number (mean +/− SEM) between the various treatment groups measured on P6. Genotypes: Nj – heterozygous Gunn rat pups, jj – homozygous Gunn rat pups. Treatments: Saline – saline given on P5, sulfa – sulfodimethoxine given on P5.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Negative geotaxis measured on P10. Data recorded as seconds until reached head up position, (mean +/− SEM). Genotypes: Nj – heterozygous Gunn rat pups, jj – homozygous Gunn rat pups. Treatments: Saline – saline given on P5, sulfa – sulfodimethoxine given on P5.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Rotarod test measured on P28, 29, 30. Data recorded as seconds from time of placement until falling, mean +/− SEM. Genotypes: Nj – heterozygous Gunn rat pups, jj – homozygous Gunn rat pups. Treatments: Saline – saline given on P5, sulfa – sulfodimethoxine given on P5. Genotypes: Nj – heterozygous Gunn rat pups, jj – homozygous Gunn rat pups. Treatments: Saline – saline given on P5, sulfa – sulfodimethoxine given on P5.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Cerebellar weights measured on P30 (g, mean +/− SEM). Genotypes: Nj – heterozygous Gunn rat pups, jj – homozygous Gunn rat pups. Treatments: Saline – saline given on P5, sulfa – sulfodimethoxine given on P5.
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