TY - JOUR
T1 - Chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with Gardnerella vaginalis
AU - McDuffie, Robert S.
AU - Kunze, Mirjam
AU - Barr, Jane
AU - Wolf, Douglas
AU - Sze, Chun I.
AU - Shikes, Robert
AU - Sherman, Michael
AU - Gibbs, Ronald S.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the March of Dimes (No. 6-FY99-308).
PY - 2002/11/1
Y1 - 2002/11/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: We sought to develop a model of chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with Gardnerella vaginalis. STUDY DESIGN: The uterine horns of pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were inoculated on day 21 of gestation with either 107 colony-forming units (cfu) of G vaginalis or saline solution. At necropsy, cultures were taken from blood, uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal tissues. Amniotic fluid was assayed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α by bioassay. Maternal and fetal tissue samples were evaluated using the histologic index score. A P value <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Compared with saline solution-inoculated animals, the G vaginalis group had significantly more positive cultures from uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal brain and lung (P = .02 to <.01). For the G vaginalis group, mean TNF-α levels and fetal brain scores increased significantly over time (P < .001 for both). CONCLUSION: Chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with G vaginalis is accompanied by progressive increases in amniotic fluid TNF-α concentrations and fetal brain histologic index scores.
AB - OBJECTIVE: We sought to develop a model of chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with Gardnerella vaginalis. STUDY DESIGN: The uterine horns of pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were inoculated on day 21 of gestation with either 107 colony-forming units (cfu) of G vaginalis or saline solution. At necropsy, cultures were taken from blood, uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal tissues. Amniotic fluid was assayed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α by bioassay. Maternal and fetal tissue samples were evaluated using the histologic index score. A P value <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Compared with saline solution-inoculated animals, the G vaginalis group had significantly more positive cultures from uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal brain and lung (P = .02 to <.01). For the G vaginalis group, mean TNF-α levels and fetal brain scores increased significantly over time (P < .001 for both). CONCLUSION: Chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with G vaginalis is accompanied by progressive increases in amniotic fluid TNF-α concentrations and fetal brain histologic index scores.
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U2 - 10.1067/mob.2002.127129
DO - 10.1067/mob.2002.127129
M3 - Article
C2 - 12439517
AN - SCOPUS:0036856079
SN - 0002-9378
VL - 187
SP - 1263
EP - 1266
JO - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
JF - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
IS - 5
ER -