Effects of erythromycin on pregnancy duration and birth weight in lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm labor in pregnant rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of erythromycin on pregnancy duration and on live birth weight in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preterm labor model in rats.


METHODS
Total of 60 pregnant rats on day 16 of gestation was intraperitoneally injected with 25 microg/kg LPS. Animals were randomly divided into six groups and 20mg/kg (n=10), 40 mg/kg (n=10), 60 mg/kg (n=10), 80 mg/kg (n=10), and 100mg/kg (n=10) erythromycin and equal volume of physiological saline (n=10) were given intraperitoneally. Injection of LPS-to-vaginal bleeding interval, vaginal bleeding-to-delivery interval, LPS injection-to-delivery interval was monitored and live birth weight of neonates was determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman correlation analysis.


RESULTS
Intraperitoneal injection of erythromycin to LPS-administered rats caused significant increase in latent period, labor period, total period and live birth weight in a dose dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
These data shows that erythromycin causes prolongation of pregnancy period and increases live birth weight in LPS-induced preterm labor of pregnant rats.
Celik
Husnu
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, TR23119 Elazig, Turkey.
Ayar
Ahmet
A
D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D004917:Erythromycin