ASPIRIN TREATMENT OF THE LOW-DOSE-ENDOTOXIN-TREATED PREGNANT RAT - PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC AND IMMUNOHISTOLOGIC ASPECTS

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of low-dose aspirin (ace tylsalicylic acid (ASA); 1.0 mg/kg daily) on blood pressure, albumin e xcretion, glomerular fibrinogen deposits, and glomerular (basement) me mbrane-bound adenosine diphosphatase (ecto-ADPase) activity, as well a s on glomerular inflammation in pregnant rats infused with low-dose en dotoxin (1.0 mg/kg). Rats (day 14 of pregnancy) were infused with endo toxin (ET rats) or saline (control rats) and received ASA in their dri nking water. These rats were compared with non-ASA-treated rats. Blood pressure and albumin excretion were measured from day 15 to day 21, a nd glomerular fibrinogen and ecto-ADPase activity were measured at day 21. Glomerular inflammation was evaluated at various times after the start of the infusion. The results show that treatment with ASA had a significant beneficial effect on hypertension and inflammation induced by endotoxin in pregnant rats, whereas it reduced albumin excretion a nd glomerular fibrinogen deposits in some of the rats.