Effects of a Porphyromonas gingivalis infection on inflammatory mediator response and pregnancy outcome in hamsters

Abstract

This study examines the effects of various localized, nondissemination challenges of Porphyromonas gingivalis on inflammatory mediator production and pregnancy outcome in the golden hamster. Live or heat-killed (HK) organisms were inoculated into a previously implanted subcutaneous tissue chamber on the 8th day of gestation to determine the effects on fetal weight, viability, and resorption. In one group of animals, HK organisms were inoculated prior to mating to determine the effects of previous exposure on day-8 gestational challenges. Chamber contents were assayed at 1 and 5 days after challenge for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). All P. gingivalis challenges caused a significant increase in chamber PGE2 and TNF-α at P < 0.01 in the following order of potency: HK < Live < 0.001. These data suggest that infections with gram-negative periodontal pathogens can elicit adverse pregnancy outcomes and that the levels of PGE2 and TNF-α produced as a result of challenge are associated with the severity of fetal effect.