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In utero bacterial endotoxin exposure causes loss of tyrosine hydroxylase neurons in the postnatal rat midbrain ZD Ling, DA Gayle, SY Ma, JW Lipton, CW Tong, JS Hong, PM Carvey Movement Disorders 2002;17:116-124 In utero exposure to a common bacterial toxin reduces postnatal levels of dopaminergic neurons in rats, according to this study. Lipopolysaccharide, also known as endotoxin, is produced by Gram-negative bacteria. LPS is known to enter the chorioamniotic environment, and is elevated in bacterial vaginosis, a leading cause of premature delivery in humans. Pregnant rats were injected with LPS at embryonic day 10.5. At postnatal day 21, pup brains showed a 29% reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive cells compared to controls, without a corresponding reduction in the total number of brain neurons. Substantia nigra volume, cell density, and cell body size were all reduced. The authors conclude, "It is difficult not to draw parallels between [bacterial vaginosis] in humans and prenatal LPS exposure in the rat…If such a parallel were to exist, it would suggest that prenatal infections such as BV occurring at the appropriate gestational age would result in the birth of humans with fewer dopamine neurons," which may predispose toward development of PD later in life. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn