cloprostenol and aglepristone

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cloprostenol (CLO) or aglepristone (ALI) for pregnancy termination in queens at 21-22 and 35-38 days of gestation. Two experiments (EXP) were carried out to accomplish this aim. Thirty-seven 12- to 14-month-old mixed breed queens were used in a randomized design. At oestrus, queens were housed for mating with a tom, and pregnancy was confirmed by transabdominal ultrasonographic examination (US). On days 21-22 of pregnancy (EXP1) or 35-38 of pregnancy (EXP2), queens were divided into three groups (G). Queens in G1 received ALI (10 mg/kg, sc; EXP1, n = 6; EXP2, n = 6) on two consecutive days. Queens in G2 received CLO (5 μg/kg, sc; EXP1, n = 6; EXP2 = 7) on three consecutive days. Queens in G3 received 1 ml of saline solution (PLA, sc; EXP1, n = 6; EXP2 = 6). After treatment, females were monitored daily by US during for 10 days and weekly until the end of gestation. In EXP1, pregnancy was terminated in (6/6, 100%), (0/6, 0%) and (0/6, 0%), for the ALI, CLO and PLA groups, respectively (p < 0.001). In EXP2, pregnancy was terminated in (6/6, 100%), (1/7, 14%) and (0/6, 0%) for the ALI, CLO and PLA groups, respectively (p < 0.001). In both EXP, after CLO administration, animals vomited and were depressed for 30 min; but no side effects were observed in the animals in the ALI group. In conclusion, the results from this study indicate that three injections of CLO are not effective, but two injections of ALI are effective to induce abortion in queens at 21-22 or 35-38 days of pregnancy.

Topics: Abortifacient Agents; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cats; Cloprostenol; Estrenes; Female; Pregnancy

The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and endocrinological effects of four different treatments for the induction of abortion in bitches. For this purpose, 28 pregnant bitches between days 25 and 35 of gestation, were randomly assigned to four groups. In group I (n = 7), only aglepristone (AGL, 10mg/kg bw, two injections 24 h apart, s.c.) was administered. In group II (n = 7), AGL (as in group I), cabergolin (CAB, 5 μg/kg, daily p.o., until completion of abortion) and misoprostol (MIS, 200 μg for bitches with ≤ 20 kg bw, 400 μg for bitches with > 20 kg bw, daily intravaginally, until completion of abortion) were administered. In group III (n = 7), AGL (as in group I) and MIS (as in group II) were administered. In group IV (n = 7) AGL, (as in group I) and cloprostenol (CLO, 1μg/kg bw, s.c., two injections 24 h apart with the AGL injections) were combined. In all groups, bitches were examined daily, clinically and ultrasonographically to monitor resorptions/abortions. To measure serum progesterone (P4) and total estrogen (TE) concentrations, blood samples were collected in all groups immediately after the first AGL administration and every other day until completion of abortion. No statistical differences were found between groups concerning the duration until completion of abortion following treatment (n.s.); however, in Group III, 6 d after the start of treatment all pregnancies were terminated whereas in Group I, II and IV, only 57.1% (4/7), 85.7 % (6/7) and 42.8 % (3/7) of pregnancies were terminated. In the latter groups, all pregnancies were terminated between days 8 and 10 after the start of treatment. In Group IV, P4 concentrations on days two and one before the beginning of abortion and the day the abortion started was significantly lower than in the other groups (P < 0.01). No statistical differences were found between groups for TE concentrations (P > 0.05). In Groups I, II and III, no severe side effects occurred. Severe vomiting after each treatment and until the end of abortion was observed in Group IV only. In conclusion, only when a combination of AGL and MIS was used abortion was completed within 6 d in all bitches whereas the additional use of CAB did not improve the treatment.

Topics: Abortifacient Agents; Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cabergoline; Cloprostenol; Dogs; Ergolines; Estrenes; Estrogens; Female; Misoprostol; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Time Factors

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of aglepristone (10 mg/kg on days 1, 2 and 8) for the treatment of metritis or pyometra in bitches (n = 67) either alone for cases of metritis (n = 15), or in cases of pyometra (n = 52) with (n = 32) or without (n = 20) the addition of low doses (1 microg/kg) of cloprostenol for 5 days (days 3-7). Examinations performed on day 90, in addition to days 8, 14 and 28, determined that treatments had been curative in the long term in 54/67 bitches (80.6%). Bitches in whom pyometra did not resolve, were given additional aglepristone on day 14 (n = 38) and day 28 (n = 20). Aglepristone alone was curative in 15/15 bitches with metritis. In 17/17 bitches with closed pyometra, cervical opening occurred within 48 h of aglepristone administration. Amongst the 52 bitches with open (n = 35) or closed (n = 17) pyometra, the additional treatment with cloprostenol from days 3 to 7, significantly improved the overall success rate at day 90, which was 27/32 (84.4%), compared to 12/20 (60.0%) in bitches without cloprostenol (P < 0.05). The leucocyte count and plasma progesterone concentrations significantly decreased over the course of treatment. Thirteen of 15 bitches in whom plasma progesterone concentrations were initially low (< 3.18 nmol/L) were cured. The recurrence rate after 12 and 24 months was 13.0% (3/23) and 19.0% (4/21), respectively.

Topics: Animals; Cloprostenol; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endometrial Hyperplasia; Endometritis; Estrenes; Female; Leukocyte Count; Progesterone; Uterine Diseases

To compare the efficacy and safety of two protocols using a combination of aglepristone and cloprostenol for the treatment of open cervix pyometra in the bitch and to describe the progesterone (P4) serum profiles before and during treatments, 15 bitches were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: I (n = 8): aglepristone was administered at 10mg/kg, s.c., on Days 1, 3, 8, and 15 (if not cured), combined with cloprostenol at the dose of 1 microg/kg, s.c., on Days 3 and 8, and II (n = 7): received the same treatment with aglepristone as Treatment I but cloprostenol on Days 3, 5, 8 10, 12, and 15 (if not cured). Before the beginning of the treatments and then on Days 8, 15, and 29 all bitches were evaluated for clinical signs, side effects, hemogram, serum P4 concentrations, and uterus diameters. Bitches in both treatment groups, with (n = 6) or without (n = 9; > or =1.2 ng/ml) initial basal P4 serum concentrations, achieved treatment success without side effects and no significant differences, either on Day 15 (6/8 for Treatment I and 4/7 for Treatment II) or on Day 29 (2/8 for Treatment I and 3/7 for Treatment II). In both treatments groups, clinical signs, blood parameters, and uterine diameters improved to normal values throughout the experiments. A significant interaction between day and treatment was found for percentage change in P4 when all bitches were considered together. Redevelopment of pyometra in the next estrous cycle occurred in 20% of the bitches. One nonrecurrent bitch was mated and whelped a normal litter. It is concluded that these two combined protocols proved to be efficient and safe in reversing clinical signs of open cervix pyometra independently of initial P4 concentrations and that the number of cloprostenol administrations seemed to have an effect on P4 serum changes throughout treatments.

Topics: Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Animals; Cervix Uteri; Cloprostenol; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endometrial Hyperplasia; Estrenes; Estrous Cycle; Female; Progesterone; Suppuration; Ultrasonography; Uterus; Vaginal Discharge

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra complex (CEH/P) is a challenge in canine reproduction. Present study aimed to assess fertility after medical treatment. One-hundred-seventy-four bitches affected by CEH/P received aglepristone on days 1, 2, 8, then every 7 days until blood progesterone < 1.2 ng/mL; cloprostenol was administered on days 3 to 5. Records were grouped according to bodyweight (BW): small (< 10 kg, n = 33), medium (10 ≥ BW < 25 kg, n = 44), large (25 ≥ BW < 40 kg, n = 52), and giant bitches (BW ≥ 40 kg, n = 45). Age; success rate; aglepristone treatments number; relapse, pregnancy rates; diagnosis-relapse, -first, -last litter intervals; litters number after treatment, and LS were analyzed by ANOVA. Overall age was 5.14 ± 1.75 years, without difference among groups. Treatment was 100% successful, without difference in treatments number (4.75 ± 1.18), relapse (15/174, 8.62%) and pregnancy (129/140 litters, 92.14%) rates, intervals diagnosis-relapse (409.63 ± 254.9 days) or -last litter (418.62 ± 129.03 days). The interval diagnosis-first litter was significantly shorter (163.52 ± 51.47 days) and longer (225.17 ± 90.97 days) in small and giant bitches, respectively. Overall, 1.47 ± 0.65 litters were born after treatment. Expected LS was achieved in each group, as shown by ΔLS (actual-expected LS by breed, overall -0.40 ± 1.62) without differences among groups. Concluding, CEH/P affects younger dogs than previously described. Relapses were rarer than previously reported. Medical treatment with aglepristone+cloprostenol is effective and safe, preserving subsequent fertility, as demonstrated by negligible changes in LS.

Topics: Animals; Cloprostenol; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Endometrial Hyperplasia; Estrenes; Female; Fertility; Litter Size; Luteolytic Agents; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Pyometra; Recurrence

This study was designed to assess endocrine changes associated with termination of mid-term pregnancy after use of two different protocols. For this purpose we compared the effects of aglepristone (AGL) alone and in combination with cloprostenol (CLO) on serum concentrations of progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2) and relaxin (RLN) measured at short-term intervals during the abortion period in bitches. Fourteen pregnant bitches between day 25 and 32 of gestation were used in the study. In the AGL group (n=7), aglepristone was administered solely (10mg/kg body weight (BW), subcutaneously, once daily on two consecutive days) whereas in the AGL-CLO group (n=7), aglepristone (dosage as in AGL group) and cloprostenol (1μg/kg BW, subcutaneously, same with aglepristone) were combined. All pregnancies were successfully terminated 5.2±1.6 days after initiation of treatments, which was significant in both groups (P>0.05). At the time of the start of abortion (SA) and the end of abortion (EA), the mean P4 concentrations were 26.6±7.3 and 12.0±6.4ng/ml in AGL group, and 2.7±0.7 and 0.9±0.1ng/ml, in AGL-CLO group, respectively (P<0.01). Serum E2 concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.05) in AGL group at 42, 48, 54h and SA after initiation of treatment. In the AGL-CLO group, serum RLN concentrations did not significantly change from the initiation of treatment to EA (P>0.05). However, markedly higher RLN concentrations (P<0.05) were observed in the AGL group at 48h (1.5±0.7ng/ml) and at SA (1.6±0.5ng/ml). The results of the present study indicate that changes in the hormonal concentrations affect the mechanism of abortion in different ways. Further in depth studies investigating changes in the expression of hormone receptors inside the ovary, endometrium and placenta might be helpful to our understanding of the endocrinological differences observed in this study.

Topics: Abortifacient Agents; Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cloprostenol; Dogs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Estrenes; Female; Luteolytic Agents; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal

Pharmacologically-induced luteolysis or treatment with an antiprogestin in early post-implantation pregnancy in dogs results in asynchronous death and resorption of conceptuses, indicating variable rates of response of individual conceptuses towards progesterone deficiency. This variability also seems to occur in bitches showing pregnancy failure in response to spontaneous luteal deficiency. In a total of 10 beagle pregnancies (two consecutive pregnancies of five bitches), abortifacient treatments beginning on day 24 after ovulation (ov) involved either administration of a progestin antagonist (total of six pregnancies, in three bitches) or a luteolytic regimen of prostaglandin F(2alpha)-analogue together with a dopamine agonist (total of four pregnancies, in two bitches). The outcomes were evaluated in relation to four control pregnancies in two bitches by assay of serum progesterone, prolactin and relaxin at selected time points or within selected time periods, by ultrasound of conceptuses including measurement of uterine blood flow, and parameters of the blood fibrinolytic system including plasma fibrinogen and plasminogen. The process of embryonic death and conceptus resorption was variable in onset and duration both in bitches that received the progesterone antagonist aglepristone (AGLE) and in those under the luteolytic treatment (cloprostenol combined with cabergoline). Pregnancy termination (death of all embryos or foetuses, respectively) occurred as early as day 29 and as late as day 41 after ov in AGLE-treated bitches, and not earlier than day 37 after ov in luteolytic-treatment bitches. Impending embryonic death was not predicted by changes in relaxin concentration, parameters of the fibrinolytic system, or in the perfusion of small uteroplacental vessels.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cabergoline; Cloprostenol; Dogs; Embryonic Development; Ergolines; Estrenes; Female; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone; Prolactin; Relaxin

Although spontaneous and medically induced canine embryonic or fetal death and "resorption" are clinically well documented, morphological studies of these processes are still missing. The objective of this study was therefore a detailed morphological investigation of canine placental sites after embryonic or fetal death. In five pregnant beagle bitches, embryonic or fetal death was induced by cloprostenol and cabergoline or by aglepristone. Two dogs served as untreated controls. Between Days 30 and 33 of gestation, the bitches were ovariohysterectomized, placental sites were fixed and examined by different methods. Morphological features of placental sites after both treatments were similar, finally leading to a complete disappearance of the placental labyrinth. Although there was an increase in the number of cells in the glandular chambers (superficial endometrial glands) expressing lysozyme after induced fetal death, signs of phagocytosis were absent in these cells, and no increased infiltration of maternal stroma by macrophages (compared to normal placental sites at the same time of gestation) occurred. We inferred that fetal and placental tissues were lysed, but no phagocytosis by genuine or "functional" macrophages was detectable. Further investigations are needed for a more detailed understanding of the morphological processes occurring after embryonic or fetal death in the dog.

Topics: Animals; Cabergoline; Cloprostenol; Dogs; Embryo Loss; Ergolines; Estrenes; Female; Fetal Death; Immunohistochemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Placenta; Pregnancy