dinoprost and Swine-Diseases

The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of using pharmacological compounds on reproductive outcomes, particularly litter size, in North American swine. While the opportunity to improve reproduction in North American pigs exists, numerous hurdles need to be overcome in order to achieve measureable results. In the swine industry, the majority of piglet losses are incurred during pregnancy and around farrowing. Over the last 20 years, a reduction in losses has been achieved through genetic selection and nutritional management; however, these topics are the focus of other reviews. This review will evaluate attempts to improve litter size by reducing losses at various stages of the reproductive process, from the time of conception to the time of farrowing, using pharmacological compounds. Generally, these compounds are used to either alter physiological processes related to fertilization, embryonic attachment or uterine capacity, etc., or to facilitate management aspects of the breeding females such as inducing parturition. Although some of the pharmacological agents reviewed here show some positive effects on improving reproductive parameters, the inconsistent results and associated risks usually outweigh the benefits gained. Thus, at the present time, the use of pharmacological agents to enhance reproduction in North American swine may only be recommended for herds with low fertility and presents an avenue of research that could be further explored.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Breeding; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Female; Growth Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Litter Size; North America; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Progesterone; Reproduction; Selection, Genetic; Sus scrofa; Swine; Swine Diseases; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Uterus

The variation of gestation length in sows leads to difficulties performing farrowing supervision. The present study was performed to investigate whether oral administration of altrenogest until 112 days of gestation and double administration of PGF2α at 113 days of gestation can synchronise the onset of parturition in sows and minimise deleterious effects on the incidence of stillbirths and colostrum quality. Additionally, the effects of synchronised farrowing on colostrum yield and piglet birth weight, colostrum intake and survival rate of piglets until seven days of postnatal life were also investigated. In total, 193 Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred sows were randomly allocated according to parity number into two groups, i.e. control (n = 95) and treatment (n = 98). The control sows were allowed to farrow naturally. The treatment sows were orally administered 20 mg per day of altrenogest for four days from 109 to 112 days of gestation and were administered PGF2α twice on day 113 of gestation. Individual body weight at birth and 24 h after birth of piglets in all litters were determined in both control (n = 1609) and treatment (n = 1707) groups. Colostrum consumption of all piglets, colostrum yield, colostrum IgG and serum progesterone of sows were determined. On average, the total number of piglets born per litter were 17.0 ± 3.1. The proportion of sows farrowed before 114 days of gestation was higher in the control than the treatment group (8.4% and 2.0%, respectively, P = 0.05) and 92.8% of sows in the treatment group farrowed on day 114 of gestation. The percentage of stillborn piglets per litter did not differ significantly between control and treatment groups (4.5% and 4.6%, respectively). Colostrum yield of sows did not differ between control and treatment groups (5.52 ± 0.13 and 5.28 ± 0.12 kg, respectively, P = 0.174). However, colostrum intake of piglets was lower in the treatment than the control group (354.7 ± 6.6 and 381.2 ± 7.0 g, respectively, P = 0.012). Colostrum IgG was higher in the control than the treatment group (41.2 ± 1.1 and 37.3 mg per ml, P = 0.013). In conclusion, altrenogest treatment from 109 to 112 days and double administrations of PGF2α on day 113 of gestation can control gestation length in sows. No deleterious effects of this protocol on the incidence of stillbirths and sow colostrum yield were detected. However, piglet colostrum intake and colostrum IgG were compromised. Thus, care of newborn piglets in the treatment gr

Topics: Animals; Colostrum; Dinoprost; Female; Immunoglobulin G; Lactation; Pregnancy; Stillbirth; Swine; Swine Diseases; Trenbolone Acetate

Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) in sows is difficult to diagnose and the pathogenesis is obscure. Hormonal changes related to the disease are often difficult to distinguish from those found in the normal transition period from gestation to lactation. The study aimed to investigate metabolic and hormonal changes related to PDS with the goal of identifying potential biomarkers in sows suffering from PDS (PDS+). Selected biomarkers were examined by comparing 38 PDS+ sows with 38 PDS negative (PDS-) sows. The sows were sampled every 24 h from 60 h ante partum (a.p.) to 36 h post partum (p.p.).. Compared to the baseline (60 to 36 h a.p.), cortisol in serum and saliva and fasting blood glucose concentrations increased in PDS+ as well as PDS- sows. C-peptide decreased relative to the baseline in PDS+ sows, and prolactin and 8-epi prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-epi-PGF2α) decreased in PDS- sows. Concentrations of cortisol in serum and saliva, salivary chromogranin A (CgA), fasting blood glucose, C-peptide, and 8-epi-PGF2α differed significantly between PDS+ and PDS- sows, with levels of cortisol in serum and saliva, salivary CgA, and 8-epi-PGF2α in serum being different in the two groups already before parturition. Concentrations of salivary CgA were significantly lower in PDS- sows than in PDS+ sows during the entire study period.. The results suggest that salivary CgA, cortisol and serum 8-epi-PGF2α may potentially serve as early diagnostic indicators for PDS. The consistently higher salivary CgA concentration in PDS+ sows compared to PDS- sows may indicate that homeostatic disturbances are present between 36 to 60 h before parturition in sows developing PDS. The higher serum and saliva cortisol concentration in PDS+ sows compared to PDS- sows could reflect an early sign of inflammation or stress. The significantly lower C-peptide in PDS+ sows compared to PDS- sows may reflect a lower food intake. Our results contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of PDS, and the homeostatic disturbances detected before parturition warrants further investigation. The diagnostic potential of the markers identified in this study should be investigated further in a larger population of sows.

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; C-Peptide; Case-Control Studies; Chromogranin A; Dinoprost; Female; Hydrocortisone; Lactation Disorders; Parturition; Postpartum Period; Prolactin; Saliva; Swine; Swine Diseases

The aim of this study was to determine the prostaglandins (PGs) production and ovarian function in gilts after intrauterine infusions of 10(6) and 10(9) colony-forming units (cfu)/ml of Escherichia coli (E. coli). In Experiments 1 and 2, 30 ml of saline or 30 ml of E. coli suspension containing 10(6) or 10(9)cfu/ml, were infused once into each uterine horn in three groups of gilts on day 3 of the estrous cycle, respectively. In Experiment 1, 17 days after treatment it was revealed that inoculation of E. coli 10(9)cfu/ml induced severe acute or subacute endometritis while 10(6)cfu of E. coli evoked moderate acute endometritis or resulted in no inflammatory changes. In the gilts receiving 10(9)cfu/ml of E. coli, the concentration of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF(2)alpha in blood from the jugular vein was elevated (P<0.05-0.001) compared to concentration in the gilts inoculated with 10(6)cfu on days 8-17 after treatment. Both the E. coli-treated groups had a lower (P<0.05, P<0.01) progesterone plasma level from days 10 to 14 after administration than the control group. On day 17 of the study, infusion of E. coli 10(9)cfu/ml, in comparison to 10(6)cfu, resulted in the greater (P<0.001) content of PGE(2) in the myometrium. The content of both PGs in the endometrium as well as PGF(2alpha) in the myometrium of gilts-treated with 10(9)cfu/ml of E. coli was lower (P<0.001) than in gilts-treated with 10(6)cfu of bacteria. Newly formed corpora lutea were found in the gilts infused with 10(6), but not those infused with 10(9)cfu/ml of E. coli on day 17 after infusion. On day 8 of the study (Experiment 2), the blood from utero-ovarian vein of the gilts-treated with 10(9)cfu/ml of bacteria had a higher (P<0.05) PGF(2alpha) level and lower (P<0.001) PGE(2) level than following infusion of E. coli 10(6)cfu/ml. Also on day 8 of the study, the content of PGE(2) in the endometrium, both the PGs in the myometrium as well as cyclooxygenase-2 in the endometrium and myometrium was greater (P<0.01, P<0.001) after applying 10(9)cfu/ml than 10(6)cfu/ml of E. coli. These results indicate that intrauterine infusions of 10(6) or 10(9)cfu/ml of E. coli lead to the development of inflammatory states of different intensities which is connected with different PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2) production and function of ovaries.

Topics: Animals; Colony Count, Microbial; Dinoprost; Endometritis; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Ovary; Random Allocation; Swine; Swine Diseases

Stress due to regrouping of breeding females is difficult to avoid completely in loose-housing systems. The effects of stress during the maternal recognition of pregnancy on fetal development and survival at Day 30 of pregnancy was, therefore, studied in 17 sows allocated into one control (C-) group, one group deprived of food during Days 13 and 14 (FD-), and one group (A-), which was treated with ACTH (0.01 mg/kg body weight of Synacthen Depot) every sixth hour during the same period. Total number of fetuses, fetal survival rate, volume of allantoic fluid, and the weight and length of total fetal unit, placentas, allantochorion and fetuses were determined. The concentrations of progesterone (P4), PGFM, PGF2, PGE, estrone-sulfate, and estradiol-17beta in the allantoic fluid were analyzed. No significant differences between groups were found for any parameter measured except for P4. Food deprivation increased P4 concentration in the allantoic fluid, and there was a positive correlation between the P4 concentration and the weight of the placenta. It is, therefore, suggested that P4 influences the placenta size among food-deprived sows.

Topics: Allantois; Animals; Body Fluids; Dinoprost; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Estradiol; Estrone; Female; Fetal Weight; Gestational Age; Organ Size; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Progesterone; Prostaglandins E; Stress, Physiological; Swine; Swine Diseases

This trial was conducted in a farrow-to-finish pig unit from November 1999 to February 2000. Since November 1998 an induction-of-parturition program was applied in gilts and sows with PGF2alpha (2 mL Dinolytic, i.m.) 113 d post service, followed by oxytocin (1 mL Intertocine-S, i.m.) 24 h later. This program resulted in a high proportion of animals farrowing within the working hours of the day. At mid December 1999 splay-legs and edematous swelling and reddening of the vulva started to be observed in newborn piglets. A concurrent decline of parameters related to parturition also was noticed. Mycotoxicological analyses of the feeds revealed a co-occurring contamination with deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. For a 4-week period, sows were divided into two groups: (a) an induction-of-parturition and (b) a non-induction-of-parturition group. Significant differences were found between the two groups relating to prevalence of dystocia (<.05) and pregnancy duration (<.05). Moreover, it was found that prevalence of splay-legs and swelling of the vulva were highly correlated (<.05) with reduction of percentage of sows farrowing within the working day and increase of pre-weaning mortality. It was concluded that such an induction-of-parturition program should be avoided during a Fusarium mycotoxicosis.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Dinoprost; Female; Fetal Death; Fusarium; Greece; Labor, Induced; Male; Mycotoxicosis; Mycotoxins; Oxytocin; Swine; Swine Diseases

In order to elucidate the effect of stress on reproductive hormones, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on the plasma levels of cortisol, progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite in ovariectomized gilts. Ovariectomy and cannulation of the jugular vein were performed within 1 week of oestrous detection, under general anaesthesia. Approximately 1 week after surgery, two gilts were each administered ACTH (Synacthen Depot) intravenously, at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg body weight, and one gilt was given saline solution (5 ml). The reverse was performed on the following day. The administration of ACTH was followed by a concomitant elevation of cortisol, progesterone and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite but not of oestradiol-17 beta. Peak cortisol, progesterone and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite levels were reached at 80 +/- 10.0, 80 +/- 10.0 and 46.6 +/- 13.3 min after ACTH administration and the durations of the peaks were 181.8 +/- 19.8, 308.1 +/- 49.7 and 181.8 +/- 7.9 min, respectively. The total area under the curve for cortisol, progesterone and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite was significantly higher in the ACTH than in the control group. The present results indicate that during stress, cortisol, progesterone and prostaglandin F2 alpha levels are elevated while the level of oestradiol-17 beta is less affected. It can be concluded that the administration of ACTH to ovariectomized gilts, results in the elevation of cortisol, progesterone and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite but not of oestradiol-17 beta.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Area Under Curve; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Estrus Detection; Female; Hydrocortisone; Male; Ovariectomy; Progesterone; Radioimmunoassay; Stress, Physiological; Swine; Swine Diseases

The effect of mimicking prepartum concentration of estradiol-17 beta on the inflammatory response to endotoxin in gilts was studied. The study was performed in a split-litter design and comprised 5 pairs of littermates. A catheter was inserted into the jugular vein 2 days prior to the start of the study. In each pair, 1 littermate was treated IM with 2.5 mg of estradiol-17 beta/75 kg of body weight, and the other littermate was given peanut oil IM as a control. The day after treatment, all gilts were challenge-exposed with a Salmonella typhimurium-derived endotoxin (1 microgram/kg, IV) and the inflammatory response to challenge exposure was monitored. There was no effect of estradiol treatment on the transient clinical signs of endotoxemia or on the increase in rectal temperature. The increase in blood concentrations of prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite and cortisol after endotoxin challenge exposure was not affected by estradiol. Decrease in number of circulating blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes was not changed by estradiol treatment. Taken together, mimicking prepartum concentration of estradiol did not affect either the magnitude or the kinetics of the inflammatory response to endotoxin in gilts. Relevance of these findings to development of endotoxin-mediated diseases, such as the postpartum agalactia syndrome, needs further study.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Endotoxins; Estradiol; Female; Hydrocortisone; Inflammation; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders; Swine; Swine Diseases; Syndrome; Toxemia

Manipulation of an ovary during the follicular phase in cycling gilts or prepubertal gilts treated with PMSG and hCG results in formation of cysts on manipulated ovaries and corpora lutea (CL) of normal appearance on nonmanipulated ovaries. In contrast, cysts did not form after manipulation in luteal phase gilts. In the present experiment, daily administration of 50 mg progesterone to prepubertal gilts treated with PMSG and hCG established luteal phase concentrations of progesterone but did not lessen the incidence of manipulated-induced cysts. Number of cysts formed was associated with the number of follicles > or = 5 mm at manipulation, which was inversely related to serum concentrations of progesterone. Number of receptors for LH/hCG in follicular tissues did not differ between manipulated and nonmanipulated ovaries but was greater in granulosa (P < .05) and theca (P < .08) from follicles with diameters > or = 7 mm compared to 5 and 6 mm. Contents of estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, progesterone and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha in follicular fluid, granulosa and theca were not different between follicles > or = 5 mm destined to form cysts. Profiles of progesterone and estradiol in peripheral serum and duration of luteal phase concentrations of progesterone were not different for gilts with induced cysts and gilts with CL. In conclusion, manipulation of follicles resulted in a failure to ovulate. Subsequent formation of cysts did not result from or result in a loss of steroidogenic function or the ability to bind LH to follicular receptors. These results demonstrate that the mechanism for ovulation is independent of other follicular processes, since ovulation can be disrupted without altering follicular steriodogenesis or subsequent luteinization.

Topics: Animals; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Follicular Fluid; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Gonadotropins, Equine; Granulosa Cells; Luteal Phase; Ovarian Cysts; Ovarian Follicle; Progesterone; Random Allocation; Receptors, LH; Swine; Swine Diseases; Theca Cells

Endotoxin of Gram-negative bacteria was orally administered in 5 female pigs and 8 male goats. Two of the gilts were pregnant. A solution of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Enterobacter agglomerans was mixed into the feed ration of the pigs (40 mg/animal), and given by gastric tube into the rumen of the goats (1-20 mg/animal). Jugular venous blood was collected and clinical signs, rectal temperature and WBC counts were recorded for 12-24 hours. Plasma concentrations of the major plasma metabolite of PGF2 alpha, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2 alpha were determined in both species, progesterone concentration only in pigs. The pigs showed slight to severe signs of endotoxemia. Increases in rectal temperature and levels of the PGF2 alpha metabolite occurred in 3 gilts. Progesterone level and the total WBC counts remained unchanged. Differential counts followed irregular patterns mostly within the normal range. The goats showed slight signs of discomfort. Temperature increased in one animal. No other parameters were altered after the intake of LPS. The observations in pigs indicate that endotoxin either penetrated the intestinal barrier causing systemic endotoxemia or induced inflammatory reactions in the intestine activating inflammatory mediators.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Dinoprost; Endotoxins; Enterobacter; Enterobacteriaceae; Female; Goat Diseases; Goats; Leukocyte Count; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Progesterone; Swine; Swine Diseases; Toxemia

Three adult boars were injected intravenously with endotoxin from Salmonella typhimurium. Blood plasma was analysed for the contents of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha, LH and testosterone. Total amount of white blood cells and differential counts were determined in whole blood. Semen was examined for concentration, motility, volume and morphological appearance of the spermatozoa. The boars were slaughtered three months after the endotoxin injection and the testes were examined. The total number of white blood cells decreased and the levels of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha rose immediately after the endotoxin administration. An initial increase in LH was seen in two out of the three boars. The increase in LH was followed by a testosterone increase in one boar and a testosterone decrease in the other. The third boar showed no initial increase in LH but an increase in testosterone. Semen examination demonstrated various morphological changes of the spermatozoa in all boars. The changes started to appear at about the same time after the endotoxin injection, but differed among the individuals. The examination of the testes depicted no changes from what is seen in normal animals. The present results indicate that the boar responds to endotoxin similar to what is seen in the ram. The endocrine changes, e.g. in LH and testosterone, are similar to those seen after termination of heat stress. The seminal changes indicate a disturbance located in the epididymis as well as a short-term, mild degeneration in the seminiferous epithelium.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Endotoxins; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Salmonella typhimurium; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Swine; Swine Diseases; Testosterone

The stable metabolites of thromboxane A2, prostaglandin E2, and prostaglandin F2 alpha (TxB2, PgEM, and PgFM, respectively) were measured in the blood plasma of nine castrated male pigs, each inoculated with 2 x 10(5) sporocysts of Sarcocystis miescheriana (group A), and in that of nine non-infected controls (group B). All infected pigs developed mild disease, the clinical signs being most severe between days 14 and 17 post infection (p.i.). In the infected pigs of group A, the TxB2 plasma levels increased with the onset of the acute phase of illness (12 days p.i.), reaching peak values at day 14 p.i. The mean TxB2 values were significantly higher in the infected pigs from day 12 p.i. until the termination of the experiment on day 21 p.i. The PgEM values increased steadily in the infected pigs from day 12 p.i. until day 21 p.i. but remained relatively constant in the control pigs during the same period. In contrast, PgFM values remained low in the infected pigs throughout the experiment, and no significant differences between infected and non-infected pigs could be found. We conclude that the elevated TxB2 and PgEM values reflect a major involvement of prostanoids in the pathogenesis of sarcocystiosis.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Male; Sarcocystosis; Swine; Swine Diseases; Thromboxane B2

Concentrations of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT/GOT) were determined in plasma of 100 gilts and 175 sows at the 112. day of pregnancy and one day after parturition. Gilts and sows were divided into a stress resistant (n = 146) and a stress susceptible group (n = 129) following the creatine-kinase-test carried out after the performance test period at a body weight of 90 kg (CK-90). Stress susceptible gilts and sows showed higher CK-values before and especially after parturition than stress resistant ones. Significant correlations were demonstrable between CK-90 and the CK values before and after parturition (r = 0.5). Regarding body temperature, respiration rate and heart frequency as well as the percentage of stillborn piglets, the two groups of sows did not differ from each other. The increase of enzyme activities after parturition was not influenced by prophylactic treatment with prostaglandin-F2-alpha or beta receptor blocking agent. The beta blocking agent Carazolol, however, caused a transient depression of heart rate after parturition.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Body Temperature; Creatine Kinase; Dinoprost; Female; Fetal Death; Heart Rate; Malignant Hyperthermia; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy; Propanolamines; Prostaglandins F; Respiration; Swine; Swine Diseases

Hormonal changes, lesions, and virus isolation studies were determined in sows after uterine artery inoculation with porcine parvovirus [( PPV], strain NADL-8) in early pregnancy. Two sows were given PPV on days 14 or 16 and were euthanatized and necropsied on day 35 after twice daily plasma collection for hormone measurement. Parvovirus was given to 4 sows on day 14 and to 4 sows on day 21 with 5 times daily plasma samples collected for 1 week. Sows were examined on days 21 and 28, respectively. Four control sows in each group on days 14 and 21 were given a placebo injection and were similarly studied. All embryos in all but 1 sow given PPV were in various stages of resorption at necropsy. Normal embryos were present in all control sows. Estrone sulfate values increased logarithmically, progesterone values remained stable, and concentrations of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha (PGFM), a PGF2 alpha metabolite, were less than 200 ng/ml for sows given a placebo. In contrast, sows with resorbing embryos did not have an increase in estrone sulfate values. A decrease in plasma progesterone values occurred in 9 of 10 sows inoculated with PPV; this decrease was accompanied by greater than or equal to 1 marked increase in PGFM concentrations. Quantitative assessment of the uterus revealed significantly greater cytoplasmic density in endometrial and glandular cell (P less than 0.01), a greater glandular epithelium height (P less than 0.05), and twice the number of glands (P less than 0.05) in control sows, compared with values in sows inoculated with PPV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Embryo Loss; Estrogens; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Hemagglutination Tests; Parvoviridae; Parvoviridae Infections; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F; Swine; Swine Diseases; Uterus

The influence of dose of oxytocin and the interval between prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha and oxytocin administration on the synchrony of farrowing, the prevalence of intrapartum complications, and the number of pigs dying perinatally was investigated. In study 1, sows were given 10 mg of PGF2 alpha IM on day 112, 113, or 114 of gestation or were not treated. Twenty hours after PGF2 alpha administration, sows were given 0, 5, 10, 20, or 30 USP U of oxytocin IM. Sows treated with PGF2 alpha or PGF2 alpha plus oxytocin had a shorter interval to farrowing than sows not treated or treated with oxytocin alone. Treatment with PGF2 alpha plus 30 U of oxytocin induced the most rapid onset and the greatest synchrony of farrowing, with the mean onset occurring 2.1 +/- 0.4 hours after oxytocin vs greater than 8 hours for all other treatments. Sows treated with 5 or 10 U of oxytocin had a delayed onset and a less synchronous farrowing, compared with sows treated with 0 or 20 U. Day of PGF2 alpha treatment influenced (P less than 0.05) the interval from oxytocin to onset of farrowing. As day during gestation decreased, there was a corresponding decrease in the interval between oxytocin administration and farrowing. Number of interventions to remove retained pigs was not influenced (P greater than 0.05) by day of PGF2 alpha administration. All sows treated with PGF2 alpha followed by oxytocin had a higher rate of manual interventions, compared with that in sows given PGF2 alpha but not oxytocin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Labor, Induced; Labor, Obstetric; Obstetric Labor Complications; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins F; Swine; Swine Diseases; Time Factors; Uterine Inertia

The porcine pulmonary vascular and airway responses to exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), and angiotensin II were evaluated before and after ketanserin, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist. Ketanserin blocked the 5-HT-induced increases in airway and pulmonary artery pressures, whereas the increases in airway and pulmonary artery pressures caused by norepinephrine, PGF2 alpha, or angiotensin II were not significantly modified by ketanserin, indicating a relatively high degree of specificity for 5-HT2 receptors. The role of endogenous 5-HT in mediating endotoxin-induced respiratory failure was evaluated by treating pigs with ketanserin. Escherichia coli endotoxin (055-B5) was infused intravenously into anesthetized 10- to 14-wk-old pigs at 5 micrograms/kg the first h, followed by 2 micrograms/kg/h for 3.5 h. Ketanserin was infused at 300 micrograms/kg before endotoxin plus 67 micrograms/kg/h during endotoxemia. During Phase 1 (i.e., 0 to 2 h), the endotoxin-induced increases in pulmonary vascular resistance and room air alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and the decreased cardiac index and lung dynamic compliance were not significantly modified by ketanserin. However, during Phase 2 (i.e., 2 to 4.5 h) endotoxemia, ketanserin attenuated the endotoxin-induced pulmonary hypertension and the increases in pulmonary vascular resistance, alveolar dead space ventilation, and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. Ketanserin also attenuated the Phase 2 bronchoconstriction and the decreased cardiac index, but did not modify the endotoxin-induced increase in alveolar-capillary permeability. These results indicate that 5-HT plays little or no role in mediating the early (i.e., less than 2 h) response to endotoxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acute Disease; Angiotensin II; Animals; Bronchi; Constriction, Pathologic; Dinoprost; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endotoxins; Escherichia coli; Ketanserin; Norepinephrine; Prostaglandins F; Pulmonary Artery; Pulmonary Veins; Respiratory Insufficiency; Serotonin; Swine; Swine Diseases; Vascular Resistance

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

This experiment was conducted in order to compare the effects of injecting PGF2 alpha alone, PGF2 alpha with oxytocin and placebo on the induction of farrowing in swine and to compare the relative effects of 3 different dosages of oxytocin (10, 20 and 30 iu per animal) when combined with PGF2 alpha (10 mg). The findings revealed that animals treated with 30 iu oxytocin farrowed within 10.6 h which was similar to those receiving PGF2 alpha only (9.4 h), but shorter than control animals (53.6 h). Animals receiving 20 and 10 iu of oxytocin farrowed within 1.4 and 1.7 h, respectively. Difficult farrowings requiring manual assistance occurred in 30%, 30%, 50% and 10% of sows given 30 iu, 20 iu and 10 iu of oxytocin and in the control group, respectively. Thirteen of 73 sows treated with PGF2 alpha farrowed within 12.6 +/- 5.3 h. Stillbirths were highest (10.2%) in the control animals whilst in the others it was under 7%. Oxytocin at dosages of 20 and 10 iu, seemed most promising in terms of synchronising farrowing following PGF2 alpha treatment in swine. However, farrowing complications were more common in these groups.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Female; Labor, Induced; Obstetric Labor Complications; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins F; Swine; Swine Diseases

Peripheral plasma concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2alpha(PGFM), progesterone, prolactin and oestrone were determined in 20 sows for two days before and three weeks after parturition. Groups of four sows each received one of the following five treatments post partum: 30 ml sterile 0.9 per cent saline solution intrauterinely; ovariectomy and 30 ml saline solution intrauterinely; 10 ml Lugol's iodine plus 20 ml saline solution intrauterinely; ovariectomy and 10 ml Lugol's iodine plus 20 ml saline solution intrauterinely, or progesterone (0.5 mg [kg bodyweight]-1 intramuscularly). Saline solution and iodine were administered every 48 hours, starting immediately after parturition, for one week. Ovariectomy was performed within eight hours of delivery. Progesterone was given every third day for 12 days. Piglet weight gains were used as a reflection of milk yield. In all sows, oestrone values were elevated before parturition, but fell by the end of delivery and were very low during lactation. PGFM concentrations rose during the last two days of pregnancy to reach maximal values at the time of delivery. Plasma progesterone levels declined concomitantly with the rise in PGFM values before parturition. Basal values of progesterone were achieved within 24 hours after delivery in control sows receiving saline treatment. Progesterone values fell immediately after ovariectomy in sows receiving saline or iodine treatment but were slightly elevated for one week in sows that received only intrauterine iodine treatment, suggesting that complete regression of corpora lutea is prevented by suppression of post parturient uterine prostaglandin production. Sows injected with progesterone maintained plasma values of about 5 to 15 nmol litre-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Female; Iodine; Lactation Disorders; Ovariectomy; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prolactin; Prostaglandins F; Swine; Swine Diseases

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Female; Hormones; Lactation; Luteinizing Hormone; Ovarian Cysts; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F; Puerperal Disorders; Swine; Swine Diseases