cloprostenol and Abortion--Veterinary

Two experiments were conducted to compare, follicle diameter (FD) on Day -1, corpus luteum (CL) area on Day 7, progesterone (P4) concentration on Day 7 and 18, pregnancy per timed artificial insemination (TAI) on Day 30, and pregnancy loss (PL) between Days 30 and 60 after TAI (TAI, Day 0) using two different synchronization protocols. In Experiment 1, Angus cows (n = 1148) were randomly assigned to either 7-d progesterone CO-Synch (7-d CO-Synch) or 8-d progesterone + estradiol (8-d P + ES) synchronization protocols for TAI. On Day -10, cows in the 7-d CO-Synch treatment group (n = 574) received a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PIVD; 0.5 g P4) and GnRH (0.105 mg), on Day -3 the PIVD was removed and cows received cloprostenol (0.150 mg), then, on Day 0 (64 h after PIVD removal), cows received GnRH (0.105 mg) and were TAI. On Day -10, cows in the 8-d P + ES treatment group (n = 574) received a PIVD (0.5 g P4) and estradiol benzoate (2.0 mg), on Day -2 the PIVD was removed, and cows received cloprostenol (0.150 mg) and estradiol cypionate (0.5 mg), then, on Day 0 (48 h after PIVD removal), cows were TAI. Pregnancy per TAI was determined on Days 30 and 60. In a subset of cows (7-d CO-Synch, n = 41; 8-d P + ES, n = 40), serum P4 concentration was evaluated on Day 18. In Experiment 2, anestrus (n = 34) and cyclic (n = 34) suckled beef cows were selected and submitted at random on Day -10, to either 7-d CO-Synch or 8-d P + ES treatment groups. Follicle diameter on Day -1, CL area, and serum P4 concentration on Day 7 were determined. In Experiment 1, pregnancy per TAI on Day 30 did not differ (7-d CO-Synch = 48.9%; 8-d P + ES = 45.6%) between treatments but it was greater for cows with BCS ≥5 (P < 0.01). Pregnancy loss between Days 30 and 60 did not differ between treatment groups but tended to be greater in cows with BCS <5.0 (P < 0.1). In a subset of cows, serum P4 concentration on Day 18 did not differ between treatment groups but tended to be lower (P < 0.1) in cows that had PL between Days 30 and 60 compared to cows that had no PL. In Experiment 2, FD tended to be greater (P < 0.1) and CL area was greater (P = 0.05) in anestrus cows from 7-d CO-Synch treatment. In cyclic cows, the treatment did not affect the FD or CL area. In conclusion, there was no difference in pregnancy per TAI on Day 30 and PL between Days 30 and 60 between cows using 7-d CO-Synch + PIVD or 8-d estradiol-based + PIVD protocols for estrus synchronization and TAI.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Clinical Trials, Veterinary as Topic; Cloprostenol; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Pregnancy; Progesterone

The present study aimed to compare two methods of prostaglandin-induced abortion in mares by determining blood markers (progesterone, estradiol-17β, alpha-fetoprotein, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin-F2α (PGFM)), B-mode ultrasonographic parameters, and time until loss of fetal heartbeat. It was hypothesized that intrauterine infusion of cloprostenol results in earlier fetal compromise than intramuscular administration. Ovarian structures (number and sizes of follicles and corpora lutea area), fetal heartbeat, and fetal mobility of thirteen singleton pregnancies were assessed daily by transrectal ultrasonography until induction of pregnancy termination (60 ± 2 days of gestation). Mares received 500 μg of cloprostenol intramuscularly every 12 h (IM, n = 7) or once transcervically (TC, n = 6). After initial cloprostenol administration, ultrasonographic examinations were repeated at 6-h intervals until loss of fetal heartbeat was detected. Plasma progesterone, estradiol-17β, and alpha-fetoprotein were assessed for five days before and after pregnancy loss. In addition, plasma PGFM concentrations were assessed immediately before cloprostenol administration (0 min), and then 15, 30, and 45 min, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 h after administration. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure with repeated measures in SAS. Significance was set at P < 0.05. All mares lost their pregnancies within 48 h after initial cloprostenol administration, with no difference in time to pregnancy loss. There were significant effects of time starting by 12 h post-induction of pregnancy termination but there was no time by group interaction for progesterone concentrations. Estradiol-17β and alpha-fetoprotein concentrations were not altered upon impending abortion. Concentrations of PGFM increased significantly by 2 h after cloprostenol administration, but there were no differences between groups. No time effects or time by group interaction for fetal mobility and heartbeat was detected. Expectedly, the number and area of corpora lutea decreased significantly after cloprostenol administration with no significant differences between groups. In conclusion, intrauterine administration of cloprostenol was not different from repeated systemic administration to terminate the pregnancy. Both models for early fetal loss were equivalent for the endpoints assessed herein. The present study provides evidence that transcervical cloprostenol administration technique is repeatable in different set

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cloprostenol; Drug Administration Schedule; Estradiol; Female; Horses; Luteolytic Agents; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone

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

To assess the efficacy and safety of 2 protocols using bromocriptine mesylate and prostaglandins to terminate unwanted pregnancy in bitches.. Prospective randomized single-blind controlled study.. 34 crossbred and purebred bitches referred for possible pregnancy termination. Seven additional pregnant bitches were used as controls.. Pregnancy was assessed by ultrasonographic examination from day 25 after mating in all bitches. Of the 34 bitches, 25 were pregnant and were randomly allocated to a treatment group. Group-1 dogs (n = 12) received a combination of increasing amounts of bromocriptine mesylate (15 to 30 microg/kg [6.8 to 13.6 microg/lb], p.o., q 12 h) and dinoprost tromethamine (0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg [0.045 to 0.09 mg/lb], s.c., q 24 h). Group-2 dogs (n =13) received a combination of increasing amounts of bromocriptine mesylate (the same schedule as group-1 dogs) and cloprostenol sodium (1 microg/kg [0.45 microg/lb], s.c., q 48 h). Both groups were treated until pregnancy termination. Results-Treatment success was 100% in both groups. Days of treatment required for pregnancy termination did not significantly differ between groups (5.0 +/- 0.6 vs 3.7 +/- 0.6 days, group-1 and group-2 dogs, respectively) although adverse effects only developed in group-1 dogs. At the end of the protocols, pseudopregnancy was observed in 3 of 12 and 6 of 13 group-1 and group-2 dogs, respectively. Pregnancy termination was followed by a mucoid sanguineous vulvar discharge for 3 to 10 days.. Results of this study indicate that protocols that combine the use of bromocriptine mesylate and prostaglandins for the termination of unwanted pregnancy in bitches are efficient and safe. The use of bromocriptine mesylate and cloprostenol had the best results and could be easily used on an outpatient basis.

Topics: Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Bromocriptine; Cloprostenol; Dinoprost; Dogs; Female; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Prostaglandins; Safety; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome

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

Content The objective of the study was to investigate whether a treatment with hCG 4 days after AI could reduce pregnancy losses in lactating dairy cows. Cows of a dairy herd presented to the veterinarian in a fixed reproductive management protocol were treated with an Ovsynch protocol if no corpus luteum (CL) could be palpated per rectum (Group OV). Cows with a CL received cloprostenol (0.15 mg). After 2 days, these cows were treated with buserelin (0.01 mg) and received timed AI 16-20 h later (Group PG). In both treatment protocols, cows were assigned to two groups to receive 2500 IU of hCG i.v. 4 days after AI or to serve as untreated controls (Groups OV-hCG, OV-Control, PG-hCG and PG-Control). Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out 27 days after AI via ultrasonography and 39 days after AI by rectal palpation. Pregnancy losses were defined as cows being pregnant on day 27 but not pregnant on day 39 after AI. Pregnancy rate (PR) by day 27 did not differ among the four groups (35.4, 35.0, 37.0 and 38.0% for Groups OV-hCG, OV-Control, PG-hCG and PG-Control, respectively). Pregnancy losses between day 27 and day 39 after AI were smaller in hCG treated animals in summer but not in autumn and spring. Pregnancy rate by day 39 after AI was higher in PG than in OV groups, but independent of hCG-treatment. In conclusion, treatment with hCG 4 days after AI did not significantly increase PR on 39 days after AI. A positive effect of hCG on pregnancy losses during the summer months warrants further investigation.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Buserelin; Cattle; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Cloprostenol; Dinoprost; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Lactation; Logistic Models; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Progesterone; Seasons; Time Factors

The aim of this study was to describe the changes in the resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) of the uterine arteries during mid-pregnancy abortion induction in the dog. Sixteen 30-35 day pregnant bitches were randomly assigned to either a pharmacological protocol to interrupt gestation (n = 8) or were used as untreated control group (n = 8). Doppler assessments of uterine arteries blood flow were carried out before the initiation of the protocol and then every other day up to abortion (treated group) or parturition (control group). All treated bitches aborted 6 +/- 1.2 days after initiation of the treatment (while none of the non-treated bitches aborted). Pre-treatment RI and S/D did not differ between groups (p > 0.2) while average post-treatment indexes were (mean +/- SD): 0.62 +/- 0.1 vs 0.53 +/- 0.1 (p < 0.01) and 2.96 +/- 0.9 vs 2.23 +/- 0.3 (p = 0.01), for the treated and non-treated group respectively. Correlations between days to abortion and RI or S/D were 0.75 (p < 0.01) and 0.79 (p < 0.01) and, -0.78 (p < 0.01) and -0.73 (p < 0.01) for the treated and non-treated groups respectively. In the treated group, correlations between serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations and RI and S/D were -0.76 (p < 0.01) and -0.59 (p < 0.01) respectively. It is concluded that, during induction of abortion, RI and S/D of uterine arteries progressively increased while P(4) decreased.

Topics: Abortifacient Agents; Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Blood Pressure; Cabergoline; Cloprostenol; Dogs; Ergolines; Female; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy, Animal; Uterine Artery; Uterus

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

Following insemination, reproductive failure in cattle is largely manifested as embryo mortality and is a major source of financial loss to livestock producers. Ongoing studies at this laboratory into factors affecting embryo mortality have facilitated the collection of new data on the extent and timing of embryo and foetal mortality in cattle. Oestrus was synchronised in 158 beef cross heifers and following artificial insemination, embryo and foetal survival rates were determined on days 14 and 30 after insemination and subsequently at calving. Embryo survival rates measured on days 14, 30 and at full term were similar at 68%, 76% and 71.8%, respectively (P0.05). Based on morphological examination, all the 14-day-old embryos recovered were assessed as grade 1. These results provide new information indicating that most embryo losses in heifers have occurred before day 14 after insemination.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cattle; Cloprostenol; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Pregnancy; Random Allocation; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

As part of a larger project investigating the development and heritability of choanal atresia glama), it was necessary to develop a protocol for aborting llamas at various stages of gestation. Twenty-seven animals between 4 and 7 mo of gestation were successfully aborted a total of 53 times following two 250 microg intramuscular injections of cloprostenol at 24 h intervals. Abortion was induced once in 10 animals and multiple times (range 2 to 5) in 17 animals. Twenty-four animals (45.2%) aborted 3 d following the first injection, with 20 animals (37.7%) aborting 4 d post prostaglandin administration. Other animals aborted at 2 d (n=6, 11.3%), 5 d (n=2, 3.8%), and 7 d (n=1, 1.9%) following drug administration. Forty-nine (92.5%) of the abortions occurred following a single series of injections, while 4 animals (7.5%) aborted following a second series of injections. No confirmed pregnant animals failed to abort following the second series of cloprostenol injections. Conception rates in animals rebred 2 to 4 wk following an abortion were comparable to those of untreated animals in the research herd. Unlike the severe hypertension and death that has been reported following dinoprost tromethamine administration in the llama, no adverse reactions were observed in this study following cloprostenol administration. The results demonstrate that llamas can be safely and effectively aborted up to 7 mo of gestation (normal full term gestation = 342 +/- 10 days) without adverse effects on subsequent fertility.

Topics: Abortifacient Agents; Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Camelids, New World; Cloprostenol; Female; Parity; Pregnancy; Progesterone

The study of bovine germ cells of known developmental stage calls for alternatives to the recovery of fetuses by surgery or slaughter. Fetuses were therefore obtained during the second month of pregnancy by aborting 49 animals using a progressively modified treatment regimen of cloprostenol, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and oxytocin. The viability of fetuses was monitored by ultrasonography throughout treatment. Intracervical treatment with PGE2 led to cervical dilation in all treated animals. However, retrieval of the fetuses by subsequent flushing of the uterus was successful in only two of six animals. When i.m. injections of cloprostenol were given 20-40 h before PGE2 treatment, fetuses < or = 40 days of gestation were expelled spontaneously, while the majority of fetuses > or = 50 days of gestation were retained. When i.m. injections of oxytocin were given in relation to clinical signs of impending fetal expulsion after cloprostenol and PGE2 treatment, 20 of 22 fetuses were expelled 42-53 h after the cloprostenol injection. Of these 20 fetuses, 19 were expelled 0-7 h after the cessation of fetal heartbeat. The subsequent fertility of animals was not affected. Thus, the final protocol allowed bovine fetuses to be retrieved at predictable times, within a few hours of death, with little maternal trauma and without affecting subsequent fertility.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cattle; Cloprostenol; Dinoprostone; Female; Fetal Viability; Fetus; Gestational Age; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Specimen Handling

The combination of a dopamine agonist, cabergoline, and a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin F2 alpha, cloprostenol, was used to induce termination of pregnancy from day 25 after the estimated luteinising hormone surge (day 27 +/- 4 after the first mating) in five mature beagle bitches. Cabergoline was administered orally at 5 micrograms/kg daily and cloprostenol was injected subcutaneously at 1 microgram/kg every other day. Treatment efficacy, in terms of pregnancy termination, was 100 per cent. Termination always took place by resorption of the fetuses. No side effects were observed. A mean of three injections of cloprostenol and nine days of cabergoline treatment was necessary to eliminate all signs of gestation. Termination was in each case accompanied by a decline in plasma progesterone (to less than 1 ng/ml) within 72 hours of initiation of treatment. In a control group of five, untreated bitches, plasma progesterone remained elevated throughout a corresponding period (from day 25 to day 50 after the estimated luteinising hormone surge). In the treated group, interoestrous intervals (98 +/- 41 days) were reduced, compared with previous cycles (194 +/- 9 days) or with those of the control animals (205 +/- 37 days). It is concluded that the combination treatment with the anti-prolactinic agent, cabergoline (5 micrograms/kg/day), and the synthetic prostaglandin F2 alpha, cloprostenol (1 microgram/kg/two days), is an easy, practical, reliable and safe method to terminate pregnancy near and before mid-gestation in dogs.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Administration, Oral; Animals; Cabergoline; Cloprostenol; Dogs; Dopamine Agonists; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ergolines; Female; Injections, Subcutaneous; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Progesterone

To determine the role of progesterone in the regulation of endogenous prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) secretion during cloprostenol-induced abortion and to investigate use of progestins to prevent prostaglandin-associated abortion.. 16 pregnant mares.. To induce abortion, cloprostenol (250 micrograms/d) was administered daily until fetal expulsion or for up to 5 days. In experiment 1, 8 mares, 98 to 153 days' pregnant, received progesterone (300 mg/d) at 24-hour intervals for 5 days, starting 18 hours after the first cloprostenol administration. In experiment 2, 8 mares, 93 to 115 days' pregnant, received altrenogest (44 mg/d) at 24-hour intervals, starting 12 hours after the first cloprostenol administration. Historic control mares, 82 to 102 days' pregnant, received cloprostenol (250 micrograms/d) daily until fetal expulsion.. In control mares, fetal expulsion occurred after 2 to 3 cloprostenol administrations and was associated with significant increases in PGF2 alpha secretion. Abortion did not occur in 5 of 8 progesterone-treated mares and 8 of 8 altrenogest-treated mares, and endogenous PGF2 alpha secretion was inhibited, compared with values in aborting mares.. Circulating progestogen concentrations may have a role in the outcome of pregnancy during prostaglandin-induced abortion. Altered prostaglandin secretion may be a reflection of a direct effect of progesterone or may be caused by the abortion process.. Progestogens might be useful for prevention of abortion in mares in which pregnancy is at risk owing to diseases that are associated with excess prostaglandin secretion.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cloprostenol; Dinoprost; Estrogens; Female; Horses; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Progesterone; Time Factors

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Age Factors; Animals; Cloprostenol; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Litter Size; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Swine

Actinomyces pyogenes from a case of endometritis was used to study the effects of infection of the bovine embryo between days 27 and 41 of pregnancy. From 10(9) to 10(10) washed organisms were introduced into the uterine lumen of four pregnant cows. Two pregnant cows were inoculated with sterile saline and four pregnant cows were treated with cloprostenol. Embryonic death and abortion followed 29 to 144 hours after the inoculation of the live bacteria. The aborted embryos were macerated or clearly degenerating and yielded profuse pure cultures of A pyogenes. Abortion was accompanied by a sustained increase in uterine tone, opening of the cervix, presence of vaginal pus and a vulval discharge and the persistence of the corpus luteum for at least eight days after abortion. Intrauterine inoculation with saline did not affect pregnancy, but embryonic death, abortion and regression of the corpus luteum occurred 66 to 72 hours after the treatment with cloprostenol. The results suggest that A pyogenes is a primary pathogen and is capable of causing embryonic death and abortion.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Actinomyces; Actinomycosis; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cloprostenol; Female; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Uterus

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of endotoxin on early pregnancy in gilts and to test the potential of flunixin meglumine (FM), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, to counteract abortifacient action of the endotoxin. Ten gilts at 30 days gestation were used in the experiment. Eight were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella typhimurium, while 2 were treated with 500 micrograms cloprostenol (CP). Six of the LPS-injected gilts were treated with a total of 4 mg/kg body weight FM in 2 different dose regimens. Clinical observations were recorded and plasma levels of 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro-PGF2 alpha, progesterone and estrone sulfate (ES) were determined with radioimmunoassay. LPS induced typical signs of endotoxemia and a monophasic fever in all LPS-treated gilts. No antipyretic effect of FM was observed. The CP-treated gilts aborted within 34 h as did the gilts treated by LPS only. Of the 6 LPS + FM-treated gilts, 1 aborted within 34 h, while 5 maintained gestation. These were aborted about a week later by CP and the aborted fetuses anatomically examined. Two of the litters were lost (devoured by the dams), 2 showed no signs of earlier death and 1 showed extensive fetal death. The PGF2 alpha metabolite concentrations increased at least 10 fold immediately after the LPS injection. Progesterone plasma concentration decreased rapidly. A 5-10 fold increase in the plasma metabolite levels accompanied all abortions. CP caused no immediate change in the PGF2 alpha metabolite levels, but the abortion-related response was similar to that in LPS-injected gilts. In the FM-treated gilts, the LPS-induced PGF2 alpha metabolite response was rudimentary and the progesterone decrease temporary in nonaborting gilts. The elevated concentrations of ES decreased within 48 h in gilts aborting at 30 days gestation, while in nonaborting gilts a slow, graduate decrease of ES occurred within 3-5 days of the LPS injection. These results indicate that FM apparently suppressed LPS-induced prostaglandin synthesis and thus prevented luteolysis and abortion in early pregnant gilts.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Clonixin; Cloprostenol; Endotoxins; Female; Lipopolysaccharides; Pregnancy; Swine; Swine Diseases

Gilts were treated during midgestation with prostaglandin (PG) F to study the efficacy of different treatment regimens on induction of abortion and to determine the adverse consequences of PGF-induced abortion in swine. In study 1, pregnant purebred Duroc gilts (60 to 90 days of gestation) were given (IM) 500 micrograms of cloprostenol (n = 12), 20 mg of dinoprost tromethamine (n = 11), or 10 mg of dinoprost tromethamine repeated 12 hours later by an additional 10 mg of dinoprost tromethamine (n = 11). The percentage of gilts that aborted and percentage of aborted gilts that returned to estrus for each treatment group were as follows: cloprostenol, 91.7% and 100%, respectively; 20 mg of dinoprost tromethamine, 36.4% and 25.0%, respectively; and 10 + 10 mg of dinoprost tromethamine, 100% and 90.9%, respectively. Treatment with cloprostenol and with 10 + 10 mg of dinoprost tromethamine caused more gilts to abort (P less than 0.01) than did treatment with 20 mg of dinoprost tromethamine. Gilts that did not abort were given a second treatment with 10 + 10 mg of dinoprost tromethamine. When the abortions by gilts initially treated with 500 micrograms of cloprostenol or 10 + 10 mg of dinoprost tromethamine were combined with those re-treated with 10 + 10 mg of dinoprost tromethamine, 32 of 33 (97.0%) gilts aborted, and 30 of the 32 (93.8%) aborted gilts returned to estrus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Abortifacient Agents; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cloprostenol; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Estrus; Female; Luteinizing Hormone; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Swine; Swine Diseases

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cloprostenol; Endotoxins; Female; Hormones; Lipopolysaccharides; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Salmonella typhimurium; Swine; Swine Diseases

An investigation of the control of the function of the corpus luteum of early pregnancy in sheep has been carried out by assessing the luteolytic effects of a dose of 100 micrograms of the synthetic prostaglandin, cloprostenol. Cloprostenol injected into 21-day pregnant sheep carrying single or multiple embryos caused luteolysis and termination of pregnancy within 2--5 days in 8 of 23 sheep. The mean numbers of corpora lutea in these ewes differed significantly from those which carried their pregnancy (1.8 +/- 0.3, SEM, vs 3.2 +/- 0.4; P less than 0.05). It appeared that the greater number of embryos, or a greater mass of embryonic tissue, afforded increased protection to the corpora lutea through unidentified antiluteolytic or luteotrophic factors. The number of corpora lutea present did not appear to be an operative factor, as the same dose of cloprostenol was luteolytic in 43 of 46 nonpregnant ewes with 1--6 corpora lutea; the 3 refractive ewes each having only 1 corpus luteum. The progesterone concentration in the plasma of pregnant ewes which underwent luteolysis following cloprostenol treatment was 0.5 +/- 0.1 ng/ml 48 h after injection, while that of the ewes remaining pregnant was significantly higher at 2.1 +/- 0.3 ng/ml. Seven of these refractive ewes which were given a second injection of cloprostenol on Day 28 of pregnancy subsequently experienced luteolysis and abortion. The corpora lutea of the remaining 8 ewes were not affected by saline injections given on Day 28, but 4 of these ewes later aborted after Day 44. It is concluded that pregnancies on ewes carrying 1 embryo can be terminated by a single dose of 100 micrograms cloprostenol given around Day 21 of pregnancy, but 2 injections given about 7 days apart may be needed when multiple embryos are present. Hormonal control of the sensitivity of the corpus luteum to luteolytic prostaglandins appears to reside in the conceptus in such a way that a decrease in sensitivity is related to the number of embryos present.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cloprostenol; Corpus Luteum; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; Kinetics; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Sheep

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cloprostenol; Dexamethasone; Dinoprost; Estrone; Female; Labor, Induced; Labor, Obstetric; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Cloprostenol; Female; Goats; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic