An Ex vivo culture model for placental cytomegalovirus infection using slices of Guinea pig placental tissue

Placenta. 2016 Jan:37:85-8. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.10.016. Epub 2015 Nov 18.

Abstract

Congenital infection with human cytomegalovirus (CMV) through the placenta is one of the major causes of birth and developmental abnormalities. Guinea pig CMV (GPCMV) causes in utero infection, which makes its animal models useful for studies on congenital diseases. Here, we established an ex vivo culture method for tissue slices prepared from guinea pig placentas and demonstrated that viral spread in the model resembles those in the placenta of GPCMV-infected animals and that the infection is independent of the pentameric glycoprotein complex for endothelial/epithelial cell tropism. Thus, this model affords a useful tool for pathobiological studies on CMV placental infection.

Keywords: Congenital infection; Cytomegalovirus; Guinea pig; Placenta; Slice culture.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / congenital*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / pathology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Placenta / pathology*
  • Placenta / virology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology*
  • Primary Cell Culture / methods