Objective: To study the sensitivity of rat to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and to establish a stable animal model.
Methods: Two kinds of rat experiments were carried out: 1) 30 SD rats were divided into three groups randomly, they were virus inoculated group, inactivated virus inoculated group and the normal rat group respectively; 2) 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, they were the virus inoculated group and the inactivated virus inoculated group. All the rats were inoculated through tail vein. 90 d later, the rat's tissue lesions were observed by pathological techniques, HCMV antigen was detected by immunohistochemical method and the HCMV DNA was analyzed by in situ hybridization.
Results: The extensive pathological damages in tissues of HCMV infected rats were observed. Meanwhile, the viral antigen and viral DNA were also demonstrated in many tissues of HCMV infected rats.
Conclusions: Rat is sensitive to infection of HCMV strain, but, as an animal model study, we still have a lot of works to do.