Endotoxin-induced fetal growth retardation in the pregnant guinea pig.

Abstract

Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that bacterial endotoxin may reduce fetal growth and to assess some of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of such an effect. Two randomly selected groups of nine guinea pigs at 30 days' gestation were treated with a solution of endotoxin isolated from Bacteroides fragilis or with solvent alone. Antibody titers, glucose, triglycerides, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha were determined in maternal or fetal blood samples. Fetal weight was determined at 61 days' gestation. Endotoxin-treated guinea pigs showed positive antiendotoxin antibody titers, reduced weight gain, and significantly higher serum levels of triglycerides and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, but not of glucose, than did sham-treated controls. Fetuses of endotoxin-treated animals had significantly lower birth weights and serum glucose concentrations and significantly higher triglyceride levels than did control fetuses. Bacteroides fragilis endotoxin causes fetal growth retardation in the pregnant guinea pig, which may be due to alterations in carbohydrate and fat metabolism mediated by cytokine action.