Animal model of tuberculous meningitis

Objective: To establish the animal model of tuberculosis meningitis.Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇RV (0.35 mg/0.05 ml) was injected into C₅₇BL mice through the venous plexus behind the eyeball.After four weeks, the changes of brain tissue were observed, the brain tissue used for homogenate culture, and count of colony.Results: After one week of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the mice began to lose appetite and manifested athrepsy, tarnished clothing hair, chill and hypothemy;their activity amount decreased and aggressivity fell off to deprivation.After two weeks of infection, the mice began to die, some mice showed faded hair and abnormal behavior.Four weeks after the brain tissue was cultured, the tuberculosis colony was observed.Conclusions: It is feasible to establish the animal model of tuberculosis meningitis with this method.