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 μ/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 μl/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.