Abstract
Summary
The effects of a single dose of endotoxin on pregnant rats were studied. Animals treated in the second trimester of pregnancy exhibited no abortions, no pertinent renal pathology and no increase in mortality rate as compared with corresponding normal animals. In contrast, a majority of rats given endotoxin during the third trimester of pregnancy aborted and died within 24 hours. In addition 10 of 18 animals within the latter group developed an occlusive glomerular lesion, the microscopic features of which were similar to those seen in the generalized Shwartzman reaction. It is suggested that pregnancy in the rat as well as in the rabbit may substitute for the preparatory phase of this reaction.
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