Abstract
OBJECTIVE: An animal model for preeclampsia was developed by means of an ultra-low-dose endotoxin infusion protocol in conscious pregnant rats.
STUDY DESIGN: Rats received a permanent jugular vein cannula on day 0 of pregnancy, through which endotoxin (1.0 mu/kg body weight) (n = 10) or saline solution (n = 6) was infused during 1 hour on day 14 of pregnancy. Blood pressure, albuminuria, and platelet counts were measured, and histopathologic studies was performed in these rats.
RESULTS: A significant increase of blood pressure (p <0.05) and of urinary albumin excretion (p <0.05) was observed in endotoxin-treated pregnant animals, in contrast to control pregnant rats receiving saline solution. Platelet coagulopathy was found and glomerular fibrinogen deposits could be detected only in the endotoxin-treated pregnant rats. In addition, the activity of the glomerular antithrombotic enzyme adenosine diphosphatase was decreased in endotoxin-treated pregnant rats compared with saline solution-treated pregnant rats.
CONCLUSION: Because histopathologic and clinical events in this model mimic predominant features of human preeclampsia, this model may enable further study into the pathophysiologic mechanisms of this complication of pregnancy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 158-164 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Volume | 171 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Jul-1994 |
Keywords
- EXPERIMENTAL PREECLAMPSIA
- ENDOTOXIN
- RAT
- GLOMERULAR ADENOSINE DIPHOSPHATASE
- SHWARTZMAN REACTION
- ENDOTHELIN LEVELS
- HYPERTENSION