Magnesium sulfate ameliorates maternal and fetal inflammation in a rat model of maternal infection

OBJECTIVE: Magnesium sulfate is proposed to have neuroprotective effects in the offspring. We examined the effects of maternal magnesium sulfate administration on maternal and fetal inflammatory responses in a rat model of maternal infection. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant rats were injected with saline, Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide or lipopolysaccharide with magnesium sulfate (pre- and/or after lipopolysaccharide) to mimic infection. Maternal blood, amniotic fluid, fetal blood, and fetal brains were collected 4 hours after lipopolysaccharide and assayed for tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and growth-related oncogene-KC. In addition, the effect of magnesium sulfate on cytokine production by an astrocytoma cell line was assessed. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide administration induced tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and growth-related oncogene-KC expression in maternal and fetal compartments. Maternal magnesium sulfate treatment significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced multiple proinflammatory mediator levels in maternal and fetal compartments. CONCLUSION: Antenatal magnesium sulfate administration significantly ameliorated maternal, fetal, and gestational tissue-associated inflammatory responses in an experimental model of maternal infection.