The pig as a model of developmental immunology

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology Vol. 21; no. 9-10; pp. 533 - 536
• Main Authors: Rothkötter, H J, Sowa, E, Pabst, R
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.09.2002; Arnold; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Newborn - immunology; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Breastfeeding & lactation; Disease Models, Animal; Embryonic and Fetal Development - drug effects; Embryonic and Fetal Development - immunology; Female; Fetuses; General aspects. Methods; Hogs; Immune system; Immune System - drug effects; Immune System - embryology; Immune System - growth & development; Immunoglobulins; Immunology; Intestines - immunology; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Risk Assessment; Species Specificity; Spleen; Swine - immunology; Thymus gland; Toxicology; Toxicology - methods; Toxicology - standards; minipig; omnivorous; gut immune system; intrauterine period; pig; Immunopathology; Animal model; Vertebrata; Toxicology; Mammalia; Investigation method; Development; Artiodactyla; Minipig; Ungulata; Pig; Immune system
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1191/0960327102ht293oa

There are many limitations to analyse the developing immune system in humans, thus there is need for experimental animal models to study the environmental influences during the ontogeny of the immune system. However, risk assessment is difficult in using rodent models alone, especially as the intrauterine period of development is much shorter than that of humans. In addition to studies in dogs, the pig provides a variety of experimental approaches for developmental immuno-toxicology. The gestation period is 115 days and the occurrence of the different lines of T and B lymphocytes in the blood and organs of the porcine embryo and fetus is well documented. Fetal porcine B cells represent a naïve population developing without maternal idiotypic–antiidiotypic influences. The postnatal development is highly correlated to sufficient uptake of colostrum during the first 48 hours. Although many immunotoxicological experiments have been performed, there is a limited number of original publications about these studies. With the different strains of standard pigs and miniature pigs available and the rapid growing amount of immunological reagents, the pig represents an important experimental model for cost-effective studies in developmental immunotoxicology to analyse the risk of environmental hazards.