Plasma endothelin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations in pregnant and cyclic rats after low-dose endotoxin infusion, ,

Plasma endothelin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α were determined in pregnant and cyclic rats after infusion of either endotoxin (1.0 μg/kg of body weight) or saline solution. After endotoxin, but not after saline solution, administration there was a transient endothelin-1 response in pregnant rats but not cyclic rats. In both reproductive conditions there was an equally high transient tumor necrosis factor-α response after endotoxin. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;177:429-30.)