Problem: Limited information is available on potential differences in sensitivity to urogenital infections between pregnant and nonpregnant hosts.
Method of study: In this study, we evaluated Escherichia coli infectious complications in pregnant and nonpregnant rats and the effect of nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on the outcome of an experimental uterine infection.
Results: Of the infected pregnant animals, 31% were found dead in 24-48 hr. The death rate was increased 2-fold (66%) with L-NAME treatment. No deaths occurred in nonpregnant animals with or without L-NAME treatment. The rate of uterine infection in pregnant animals was about 10-fold higher than in nonpregnant animals.
Conclusion: We propose that infectious complications of pregnancy may be related to gestation-dependent sensitivity to the pathogenic microorganism and the host NO status.