Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on IL-17, fetal body weight and total fetus in pregnant Rattus norvegicus infected with tachyzoite Toxoplasma gondii

IL-17 in Toxoplasma gondii infection has an important role in miscarriage and low birth weight with many negative effects. This study explains the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) administration on fetal body weight and IL-17 pregnant female rat levels. Rattus norvegicus were divided into four groups. IL-17 concentration was measured by serum ELISA. There was statistically significant reduction of IL-17 levels (79.42±30.36, 125.46±60.05, 201.17±70.33, 158.76±58.48, p = 0.001 for pregnant rats infected by Tachyzoite with HBO2 group, pregnant rats non-infected by Tachyzoit with HBO2 group, pregnant and infected without HBO2 group, and negative control, respectively). Although, there was no significant difference in the number of fetuses among groups (p = 0.096). The HBO2 treatment group had the heaviest of fetal weight among groups (0.98 [0.30 - 6.22] gram, p = 0.046). The results of the Spearman correlation test showed that only group B had a significant negative relationship between IL17 concentration and the mean fetal weight (p = 0.001). HBO2 therapy was found to be able to reduce IL-17 levels and result in rising of fetal weight in pregnant Rattus norvegicus and might prevent the occurrence of abortion.