Amelioration of Escherichia coli-induced endometritis with ascorbic acid in non-pregnant mouse models.
PROBLEM
Infection-induced endometritis is associated with infertility. The outcome with oral antibiotics remains poor. This study therefore investigates the role of ascorbic acid in resolving endometritis.


METHOD OF STUDY
Animals with established oestrus cycles were inoculated with Escherichia coli. Two days post-inoculation, the animals were administered ascorbic acid (10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg) and amoxicillin (500 mg/kg) for 5 days. Other groups included water only and E. coli inoculated with no treatment. Body temperatures, weights and vaginal cytology were examined. On the sixth day, after anaesthesia, blood samples were obtained for haematological analysis. Uterine organs were weighed, ex-vivo functionality analysed and histopathological analysis performed.


RESULTS
Ascorbic acid (AA) (100 and 1000 mg/kg) regularized the cycle of the endometritic animals comparable to amoxicillin. AA (1000 mg/kg) and amoxicillin, significantly decreased (P < .05) the endometritis-induced increase in uterine weights, restored the endometrial architecture and significantly (P < .05) normalized uterine contractions to control values. Improved haematological profiles were additionally observed on treatment with ascorbic acid (100 and 1000 mg/kg).


CONCLUSION
AA compared favourably with amoxicillin in endometritis management, suggesting that AA can be used in the management of infection-induced endometritis, normal cycling and normal uterine function.
['Bafor|Enitome Evi|EE|0000-0002-5213-3177', 'Onwukpa|Ikechukwu|I|', 'Itemire|Anne Oghenekevwe|AO|', 'Omoruyi|Osemelomen|O|', 'Eferoba-Idio|Ejiroghene|E|', 'Odega|Kevin|K|', 'Eghianruwa|Osas Jim|OJ|']
D000658:Amoxicillin D000818:Animals D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents D001205:Ascorbic Acid D004195:Disease Models, Animal D004716:Endometritis D004717:Endometrium D004926:Escherichia coli D004927:Escherichia coli Infections D005260:Female D006403:Hematologic Tests D006801:Humans D051379:Mice D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains D014599:Uterus
endometritis ascorbic acid mouse Escherichia coli amoxicillin uterus