Intrauterine bacterial inoculation induces labor in the mouse by mechanisms other than progesterone withdrawal
Intrauterine bacterial inoculation induces labor in the mouse by mechanisms other than progesterone withdrawal
复制标题
DOI:
10.1095/biolreprod67.4.1337
复制
发表时间:
2002-10-01
影响因子:
3.6
通讯作者:
Muhle, R
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Hirsch, E;Muhle, R
We tested the hypothesis that progesterone (P-4) withdrawal is the primary mechanism by which intrauterine bacteria induce preterm labor in mice. CD-1 mice on Day 14.5 of a 19- to 20-day gestation were subjected to one of four treatments: 1) intrauterine injection of sterile medium, 2) intrauterine injection of 106 heat-killed Escherichia coli bacteria, 3) intrauterine injection of 109 heat-killed E coli, or 4) ovariectomy. Mice were then killed at four time points from 0.75 to 11 h after surgery for serum collection. Separately, animals were pretreated either with s.c. P-4 or with vehicle 2 h before ovariectomy or high-dose bacterial inoculation. Ovariectomy led to a rapid fall in serum P4 levels of 60% by 1 h and 81 % by 8 h compared with levels in controls (P < 0.001). In contrast, intrauterine inoculation with 109 bacteria led to a more modest decline in P-4 of only 28% by 8 h (P = 0.24, which was no different from that of 106 bacteria, an inoculum below the threshold for preterm delivery). Despite significantly lower levels of P4 in the ovariectomy group, time to delivery was significantly shorter with 109 bacteria intrauterine (24 5.6 h vs. 19 3.6 h, P = 0.03). Pretreatment with 1.5 mg P-4 per mouse prolonged the interval to delivery following both ovariectomy and high-dose bacteria, in association with pharmacologically elevated serum P-4 levels. In contrast, physiologic P-4 supplementation (0.375 mg/mouse) prolonged gestation only in the ovariectomy group. We conclude that withdrawal of endogenous P-4 is not the primary cause of labor following intrauterine bacterial inoculation in mice.