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 mu/kg intraperitoneal injection of LPS (LPS g
roup) 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 mu l/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 af
ter the second treatment of LPS.
Results. Preterm delivery was induced by LPS in all mice on day 16 of gesta
tion. Lactoferrin administration to LPS-treated mice significantly prolonge
d (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, administr
ation of lactoferrin (1 mg/body) to LPS-treated mice significantly suppress
ed (p<0.001) IL-6 levels (1.060+/-154 pg/ml).
Conclusions. Lactoferrin exerts a preventive effect on the incidence of pre
term delivery in mice via a suppression of plasma IL-6 augmentation by LPS.