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Published on: November 20, 2015
The effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide on pregnancy in the rat
A Kunnen1, M G van Pampus, J G Aarnoudse
1Department of Periodontology, Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; School of Health Care Studies, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Objective:
Periodontitis, mostly associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis, has frequently been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We therefore investigated whether lipopolysaccharides of P. gingivalis (Pg-LPS) induced pregnancy complications in the rat.
Methods:
Experiment 1: pregnant rats (day 14) received increasing Pg-LPS doses (0.0-50.0 μg kg(-1) bw; n = 2/3 p per dose). Maternal intra-aortic blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion, placental and foetal weight and foetal resorptions were documented. Experiment 2: 10.0 μg kg(-1) bw (which induced the highest blood pressure together with decreased foetal weight in experiment 1) or saline was infused in pregnant and non-pregnant rats (n = 7/9 p per group). Parameters of experiment 1 and numbers of peripheral leucocytes as well as signs of inflammation in the kidney and placenta were evaluated.
Results:
Pg-LPS infusion in pregnant rats increased maternal systolic blood pressure, reduced placental weight (dose dependently) and decreased foetal weight and induced foetal resorptions. It, however, did not induce proteinuria or a generalised inflammatory response. No effects of Pg-LPS were seen in non-pregnant rats.
Conclusion:
Pg-LPS increased maternal blood pressure, induced placental and foetal growth restriction, and increased foetal resorptions, without inducing proteinuria and inflammation. Pg-LPS may therefore play a role in pregnancy complications induced by periodontitis.
