THE FETAL GLYCOPROTEIN, FETUIN, COUNTERACTS ILL-EFFECTS OF THE BACTERIAL-ENDOTOXIN, LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE, IN PREGNANCY

We show that fetuin, a fetal glycoprotein present in fetal plasma in c oncentrations substantially higher than in the adult, can exert a prot ective function against ill-effects of the bacterial endotoxin, lipopo lysaccharide (LPS), in pregnancy. The concentration of fetuin in plasm a of pregnant rats (E17 gestation) was artificially increased by repea ted intraperitoneal administration of this protein. This was followed by an injection of a standard dose of LPS, a dose that produced in con trol animals (no additional fetuin) nearly 50% abortions and 40% mater nal deaths. None of the females exposed to increased fetuin died follo wing LPS injection. Nine out of 10 multigravida animals carried their pregnancy to full term but all primagravidas aborted.