Moderate Exercise Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Associated Maternal and Fetal Morbidities in Pregnant Rats

Karina T Kasawara; Tiziana Cotechini; Shannyn K Macdonald-Goodfellow; Fernanda G Surita; João L Pinto E Silva; Chandrakant Tayade; Maha Othman; Terence R S Ozolinš; Charles H Graham

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154405

Moderate Exercise Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Associated Maternal and Fetal Morbidities in Pregnant Rats

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 28;11(4):e0154405. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154405. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Karina T Kasawara^{1

2}, Tiziana Cotechini¹, Shannyn K Macdonald-Goodfellow¹, Fernanda G Surita², João L Pinto E Silva², Chandrakant Tayade¹, Maha Othman¹, Terence R S Ozolinš¹, Charles H Graham¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) and coagulopathies are often associated with aberrant maternal inflammation. Moderate-intensity exercise during pregnancy has been shown to increase utero-placental blood flow and to enhance fetal nutrition as well as fetal and placental growth. Furthermore, exercise is known to reduce inflammation. To evaluate the effect of moderate-intensity exercise on inflammation associated with the development of maternal coagulopathies and FGR, Wistar rats were subjected to an exercise regime before and during pregnancy. To model inflammation-induced FGR, pregnant rats were administered daily intraperitoneal injections of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gestational days (GD) 13.5-16.5 and sacrificed at GD 17.5. Control rats were injected with saline. Maternal hemostasis was assessed by thromboelastography. Moderate-intensity exercise prevented LPS-mediated increases in white blood cell counts measured on GD 17.5 and improved maternal hemostasis profiles. Importantly, our data reveal that exercise prevented LPS-induced FGR. Moderate-intensity exercise initiated before and maintained during pregnancy may decrease the severity of maternal and perinatal complications associated with abnormal maternal inflammation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Blood Coagulation / drug effects
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation / chemically induced
Fetal Growth Retardation / physiopathology
Fetal Growth Retardation / prevention & control*
Fetus
Gestational Age
Inflammation / chemically induced
Inflammation / physiopathology
Inflammation / therapy
Leukocyte Count
Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
Physical Conditioning, Animal*
Pregnancy
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Thrombelastography

Substances

Lipopolysaccharides

Grants and funding

KTK received scholarships from the Canadian Bureau for International Education – Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (CBIE/DFAIT) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel –The Ministry of Education of Brazil (CAPES/MEC) and Canada-Brazil Awards – Joint Research Projects (2011-2012) and from FAEPEX (University of Campinas). TC was a recipient of a recipient of a CIHR Doctoral Award-Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. This research was supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; grant number MOP 119496) awarded to CHG. The TEG studies were supported by a grant from the Canadian Haemophilia Society awarded to MO.