cloprostenol and Fetal-Death

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

The present study describes the clinical features and plasma profiles of bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein 1 (bPAG1), the main metabolite of prostaglandin F2alpha (PG metabolite) and progesterone (P4) in heifers in which early abortions were induced.. Early abortions were induced in four heifers with cloprostenol and monitored by ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected and the plasma were analyzed for bPAG 1, P4 and PG metabolite.. The foetal heartbeat rates varied from 170-186 beats per minute for all foetuses up to the date of cloprostenol treatment. Foetal death was confirmed within two days after cloprostenol treatment. Prior to cloprostenol injection, blood plasma concentrations of bPAG1, PG metabolite and P4 varied from 8.4-40.0 ng/mL, 158-275 pmol/L and 20.7-46.9 nmol/L, respectively. After the foetus expelled, the plasma level of bPAG1 began to decrease but the decrease was small and gradual. The estimated half-life of bPAG1 was 1.8-6.6 days. The plasma level of the PG metabolite started to have short lasting peaks (above 300 pmol/L) within three hours after cloprostenol treatment. The plasma concentrations of P4 dropped sharply to less than 4 nmol/L after 24 hours of cloprostenol injection.. The current findings indicated that after early closprostenol-induced foetal death, the plasma concentration of bPAG1 decreased gradually and showed a tendency of variation with the stages of pregnancy.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Animals; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; Cattle; Cloprostenol; Dinoprost; Female; Fetal Death; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins; Progesterone; Time Factors; Ultrasonography

In each of 4 years, 94-116 mature cows had two 6-7-day-old embryos, produced by the in vitro fertilisation of oocytes, inserted non-surgically into one uterine horn of each cow. Starting 5 days before the expected date of calving, the cows were continuously observed and assistance at calving was provided when required. In year 1, perinatal calf survival was similar in twin-calving (TC) and single-calving (SC) cows (98.1 versus 100% for calves born to TC and SC, respectively). There was a higher incidence of assistance at birth for TC (52%) than for SC (21%). In years 2 and 3, the calving of 30 SC and 33 TC was synchronised using an injection of Opticortinol (OP) 6-9 days before the injection of Estrumate and Dexol-5 (E+D). A further 34 SC calved naturally. Synchronised calving reduced the spread of calving from 16-25 to 8-9 days without reducing perinatal calf survival and had no significant effect on the incidence of assistance at birth in SC. The TC in years 2 and 3 had a high incidence of retained placenta at 48 h (70%) and a high incidence of assistance at birth (85%). In year 4, calving was synchronised in 16 SC and 21 TC with E+D and no pre-treatment with OP, while 15 SC were treated with both OP and E+D. There were no effects of the hormone treatment on perinatal calf survival and only small effects on the incidence of assisted births for SC. The incidence of retained placenta at 48 h was lower for SC pre-treated with OP (40%) than for SC (88%) and TC (76%) not pre-treated with OP. Continuous supervision over calving produced perinatal calf survival rates for TC that were similar to SC, despite the higher incidence of assistance of TC at parturition. Hormonal synchronisation of calving can halve the time required for continuous supervision of calving, but the hormone treatments exacerbate the already high incidence of retained placenta in TC.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cattle; Cloprostenol; Embryo Transfer; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Fetal Death; Gestational Age; Incidence; Labor, Induced; Obstetric Labor Complications; Placenta, Retained; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy, Animal; Pregnancy, Multiple; Reproduction; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Twins

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cloprostenol; Female; Fetal Death; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic

The rosette inhibition test has been used to monitor the decrease of an 'early pregnancy factor' in 2 groups of pregnant sheep (19-21 days) in which embryos were removed surgically or by induction of luteolysis with cloprostenol. The rosette inhibition titres of sera taken from sheep of each group declined from high (16-18) to low (8-10) levels within 48 h of treatment. Surgical removal of embryos caused little change in serum progesterone concentration whereas cloprostenol prompted a rapid decrease over the same period. Death of the embryo can therefore be detected by the rosette inhibition test within 48 h of occurrence, but not necessarily by the measurement of progesterone in blood within this period.

Topics: Animals; Cloprostenol; Corpus Luteum; Female; Fetal Death; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Tests, Immunologic; Prenatal Diagnosis; Progesterone; Rosette Formation; Sheep

Experiments were carried out under conditions existing in industrial swine complexes with two groups of experimental sows: I group -- consisting of 17 sows injected on the 108th and 109th day of pregnancy with 175 g cloprostenol, and II group -- consisting of 145 sows injected on the 110th, 111th, 112nd and 113th day of pregnancy. On 125 sows of 110--111 day of pregnancy a reduced single dose application of 150 g cloprostenol was tested. Studies were performed on the period to farrowing following cloprostenol injection, the duration of farrowing, the changes in physiological behaviour, the number of viable and unviable new born piglets, the results following weaning of offspring at the age of 28 days and on the economic evaluation of the technology of forced synchronized and programmated farrowing in industrial swine complexes. It was established that the synthetic analogue of prostaglandine F2L (cloprostenol) applied once by intramuscular injection at a rate of 175 g per sow on the 110--113th day of pregnancy has a luteinizing effect and leads to forced synchronized farrowing of 75--80% of the sows, 27 +/- 5 h post treatment. Similar results were obtained by a reduced rate of 150 g cloprostenol. Synchronized farrowing provides an opportunity for simultaneous weaning of equated piglet groups and contributes for better labour organization and veterinary service. Shortening the pregnancy period below the 110th day is not feasible physiologically and economically.

Topics: Animals; Cloprostenol; Drug Evaluation; Economics; Female; Fetal Death; Injections, Intramuscular; Labor, Induced; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Swine; Time Factors