title: Hormonal profiles of late gestation ewes following intra-uterine inoculation with and without lux-modified Escherichia coli.
abstract: The objectives of these investigations were to develop an ovine model for Escherichia coli (E. coli)-induced preterm delivery, and monitor ewe hormonal response. EXP 1: Ewes (105 +/- 13 days of gestation) were allotted to the following intra-uterine inoculations: Saline-(CON; n=5); 1 x 10(6) CFU/ml (Low Treatment, LT; n=6); or 1 x 10(7) CFU/ml (High Treatment, HT; n=6) E. coli. Twenty-four h after inoculation, the HT ewes had increased (P<0.05) cortisol compared to LT and CON ewes, and HT and LT ewes had increased (P<0.05) progesterone compared to CON ewes. Preterm delivery was 33% for LT ewes and 0% for HT and CON ewes. EXP 2: Ewes (124 +/- 18 days of gestation) were allotted to the following intra-uterine inoculations using lux-modified E. coli: Trial-1: Luria Broth (LB; CT1; n=5); 4.0 x 10(6) CFU (n=5), 20.0 x 10(6) CFU (n=5); and Trial-2: LB (CT2; n=5), 1.2 x 10(6) CFU (n=5), and 5.6 x 10(6) CFU (n=5) E. coli-lux. Preterm delivery occurred between 48 and 120 h post-inoculation in 60, 25, 60 and 75% of ewes infected with 1.2, 4.0, 5.6, and 20 x 10(6) CFU, respectively. Serum cortisol and progesterone did not differ (P>0.05) between CT1 or CT2 and inoculated ewes. In summary, 25 to 75% of ewes inoculated preterm delivered. However, variable results in cortisol and progesterone profiles between Control and inoculated ewes were observed between the two studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Keesla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klauser
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodts-Palenik
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005328:Fetal Viability; D005865:Gestational Age; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006728:Hormones; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011374:Progesterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone