title: Maternal/fetal mortality and fetal growth restriction: role of nitric oxide and virulence factors in intrauterine infection in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mechanism of infection-related deaths of pregnant rats and intrauterine growth restriction are not understood. We assessed whether nitric oxide (NO) has differential effects on infection with Escherichia coli Dr/Afa mutants that lack either AfaE or AfaD invasins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats were infected intrauterinally with the clinical strain of E coli AfaE(+)D(+) or 1 of its isogenic mutants in the presence or absence of the NO synthesis inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Maternal/fetal mortality rates, fetoplacental weight, and infection rates were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal and/or fetal death was associated with the presence of at least 1 virulence factor (AfaE(+)D(+)>AfaE(+)D(-)>AfaE(-)D(+)) and was increased by L-NAME treatment. The fetal and placental weights were lower than controls and were further reduced by L-NAME treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that NO enhanced AfaE- and AfaD-mediated virulence and plays an important role in Dr/Afa(+)E coli gestational tropism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Infectious Diseases, Chair of Neonatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wroblewska-Seniuk
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nowicki
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Bouguénec
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nowicki
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yallampalli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D046689:Fetal Mortality; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000139:chemically induced; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D037521:Virulence Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester