The possible role of the intestinal microflora in inhibiting the colonization of Salmonella in the ceca of gnotobiotic chickens was investigated. In the cecal contents of newly hatched (2-day-old) and adult normal (7-mo-old) chickens, a larger number of Escherichia coli and a smaller number of Lactobacillus sp. were noticed in 2-day-old chickens than in adult chickens. Gnotobiotic chickens treated with cecal contents from either newly hatched or adult birds were orally exposed to Salmonella typhimurium, and on the following day S. typhimurium in the ceca were counted. The adult microflora prevented S. typhimurium colonization more strongly than did the microflora of newly hatched chicks. Gnotobiotic chickens treated with E. coli, Lactobacillus sp., or the mixture of both organisms were orally inoculated with S. typhimurium. The mixture of both organisms suppressed S. typhimurium colonization most effectively, followed by E. coli alone and Lactobacillus sp. alone, Escherichia coli may play a role of competitive exclusion only in newly hatched chickens, whereas Lactobacillus sp. may have a partial role in adult chickens.
ABSTRACT. Placental complement has the potential to induce autologous embryo injury. We have previously found a significant elevation of adipsin, an activating factor of the alternative complement pathway, in mouse placentas from spontaneous abortions. The present study was aimed to evaluate regulation of the alternative complement pathway in placentas of mouse spontaneous abortions. Protein was purified from mouse placentas at normal and abortion implantation sites on day 14.5 of pregnancy. The activity of the alternative complement pathway was slightly intensified following addition of protein from abortion placentas. Western blotting revealed that Crry was clearly present in the placentas from abortions. Thus, the complement regulating system through Crry is functional to restrict alternative complement activity in abortion placentas.
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