| Autor: |
Fehlhaber B; Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany., Heinemann AS; Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany., Rübensam K; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany., Willers M; Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany., Völlger L; Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany., Pfeifer S; Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany., von Köckritz-Blickwede M; Research Centre for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany.; Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany., Viemann D; Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany. viemann.dorothee@mh-hannover.de. |
| Abstrakt: |
Neonatal animal models are increasingly employed in order to unravel age-specific disease mechanisms. Appropriate tools objectifying the clinical condition of murine neonates are lacking. In this study, we tested a scoring system specifically designed for newborn mice that relies on clinical observation and examination. Both, in a neonatal sepsis model and an endotoxic shock model, the scoring results strongly correlated with disease-induced death rates. Full as well as observation-restricted scoring, reliably predicted fatality and the remaining time until death. Clinical scores even proved as more sensitive biomarker than 6 traditionally used plasma cytokine levels in detecting sepsis at an early disease stage. In conclusion, we propose a simple scoring system that detects health impairments of newborn mice in a non-invasive longitudinal and highly sensitive manner. Its usage will help to meet animal welfare requirements and might improve the understanding of neonatal disease mechanisms. |
