Azithromycin prevents pregnancy loss: reducing the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and raising the level of interleukin-10 in rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of azithromycin on LPS-induced pregnancy loss. Thirty-six pregnant female Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups as follows: control group, where 0.3 mL of normal saline solution was administered intravenously on day 10 of pregnancy; azithromycin group, where azithromycin was administered orally at 350 mg kg(-1) day on days 9, 10, and 11 of pregnancy; lipopolysaccharide group, where LPS was administered intravenously via the tail vein at 160 μg kg(-1) on day 10 of pregnancy; and the azithromycin + LPS group, where azithromycin was administered orally at 350 mg kg(-1) day on days 9, 10, and 11 of pregnancy and LPS was administered intravenously at 160 μg kg(-1) on day 10 of pregnancy. Blood samples were obtained from the tail vein on day 10 of the experiment. Pregnancy rates were determined. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α ) and interleukin (IL-10) levels were measured by ELISA. Azithromycin prevented (P < 0.05) LPS-induced pregnancy loss. Higher TNF- α and IL-10 levels were measured (P < 0.05) in the LPS and azithromycin + LPS groups, respectively. In conclusion, azithromycin may be useful in infection- or endotoxemia-dependent pregnancy loss.

Figure 1

The number of offspring in groups. To induce the pregnancy loss with LPS, 160 μg kg⁻¹ LPS (Escherichia coli 0111:B4) was administered intravenously via the tail vein on day 10 of pregnancy in LPS group. Azithromycin was administered orally at 350 mg kg⁻¹ day on days 9, 10, and 11 of pregnancy in azithromycin and azithromycin + LPS groups. Blood samples were obtained from the tail vein on day 10 of the experiment and all animals were followed during pregnancy. Animals that did and did not give birth were determined. ^a,bDifferent letters are statistically significant (P < 0.05).