title: Effect of lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm delivery in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study attempted to confirm the preventive effect of lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm delivery in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female C3H/HeNCrj mice were pair-mated with male Crj: B6D2F1 mice. On day 15 of gestation, a 50 micron/kg intraperitoneal injection of LPS (LPS group) was administered twice with a 3-hour interval between injections (at 2:00 and 5:00 PM). The mice were also given an intraperitoneal injection of lactoferrin (0.2 or 1 mg/200 microl/body) 1 hour prior to each LPS injection) (at 1:00 and 4:00 PM). To determine the effect of LF on plasma IL-6 level, mother mice were sacrificed and blood samples were obtained at 6 hours after the second treatment of LPS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preterm delivery was induced by LPS in all mice on day 16 of gestation. Lactoferrin administration to LPS-treated mice significantly prolonged (p<0.001) gestation when compared with the LPS group. Plasma levels of IL-6 in the LPS group (1.628+/-115 pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the untreated group (497+/-39 pg/ml). On the other hand, administration of lactoferrin (1 mg/body) to LPS-treated mice significantly suppressed (p<0.001) IL-6 levels (1.060+/-154 pg/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactoferrin exerts a preventive effect on the incidence of preterm delivery in mice via a suppression of plasma IL-6 augmentation by LPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitsuhashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanaihara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D007781:Lactoferrin