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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Can Sulfasalazine Prevent Infection‐Mediated Pre‐Term Birth in a Murine Model?
Author(s) -
Nath Carl A.,
Ananth Cande V.,
Smulian John C.,
Peltier Morgan R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2009.00773.x
Subject(s) - sulfasalazine , litter , medicine , gestation , pregnancy , birth weight , immunology , andrology , biology , genetics , disease , ulcerative colitis , agronomy
Citation Nath CA, Ananth CV, Smulian JC, Peltier MR. Can sulfasalazine prevent infection‐mediated pre‐term birth in a murine model? Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 144–149 Problem Sulfasalazine (SASP) blocks activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) in gestational tissues in vitro – one of the earliest signals in the inflammatory response. We hypothesized that the administration of SASP would reduce the rate of infection‐mediated pre‐term birth in a murine model. Method of study CD‐1 mice ( n = 40) were assigned on gestational day (gd) 14.5 to 1 of 3 treatments: (1) Sham infection and vehicle; (2) 10 4 CFU Escherichia coli and vehicle; or (3) 10 4 CFU E. coli and SASP (150 mg/Kg daily). Mice were observed twice daily and deliveries prior to gd 18.5 were considered pre‐term. Results Significantly more mice delivered prior to gd 18.5 when infected with 10 4 CFU E. coli than sham‐infected mice ( P < 0.001) and this effect was significantly reduced in mice also treated with SASP ( P = 0.002). SASP also tended to increase litter size ( P = 0.060) and significantly increased weight of pups born to dams with intrauterine infections ( P = 0.001). Conclusion SASP reduced rates of pre‐term delivery and improved pregnancy outcomes for mice infected with 10 4 CFU E. coli. This suggests that SASP has the potential to play a role in strategies to prevent pre‐term birth in women.