Effects of Shiga Toxin 2 on Lethality, Fetuses, Delivery, and Puerperal Behavior in Pregnant Mice
AUTOR(ES)
Yoshimura, Kazuaki
FONTE
American Society for Microbiology
RESUMO
Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) is produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and is known as the major virulence factor of EHEC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Stx2 on (i) maternal lethality, (ii) fetuses, (iii) delivery period, and (iv) maternal behavior after delivery. Timed pregnant ICR mice were injected intravenously with Stx2 on day 5 of pregnancy (early stage) or on day 15 (late stage). In early-stage experiments, the number of normal fetuses of mice injected with Stx2 was significantly lower than that of control mice. In late-stage experiments, mothers injected with Stx2 delivered normal numbers of neonates, but could not take care of them. The lethal doses of Stx2 were not different for pregnant and nonpregnant female mice at either stage. We conclude that Stx2 is toxic to the fetus in early pregnancy and affects maternal puerperal behavior in late pregnancy.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=97411Documentos Relacionados
- Neonatal Lethality, Dwarfism, and Abnormal Brain Development in Dmbx1 Mutant Mice
- Embryonic Lethality, Decreased Erythropoiesis, and Defective Octamer-Dependent Promoter Activation in Oct-1-Deficient Mice
- Fungal Lethality, Binding, and Cytotoxicity of Syringomycin-E
- Distribution of radioactivity from 14C-formaldehyde in pregnant mice and their fetuses.
- Shiga toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome: combined cytotoxic effects of shiga toxin and lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) on human vascular endothelial cells in vitro.
