Hormonal variation in bitches after early or mid-pregnancy termination with aglepristone (RU534)

Seven bitches in early pregnancy (12.8 +/- 3.8 days after ovulation; group 1) and seven bitches in mid-pregnancy (32.0 +/- 1.53 days after ovulation; group 2) were used in this study. For each group, five bitches were treated with 0.10 mg aglepristone (Alizine) kg-1 and this dose was repeated 24 h later. Two control bitches received a placebo. Blood samples were collected at 6 h intervals to determine plasma concentrations of progesterone, dihydro-keto prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM), oxytocin, prolactin and cortisol. Parturition occurred in the four control bitches. All bitches treated with aglepristone aborted. In group 1, embryonic death occurred; in group 2, fetal expulsion occurred 60-132 h after administration of aglepristone. After pregnancy termination, the interoestrous interval of aglepristone-treated bitches was significantly shorter than that before treatment. Treatment with aglepristone did not modify plasma concentrations of progesterone, prostaglandin, oxytocin or cortisol within 24 h after its administration, but it induced, in mid-pregnancy (group 2) a discharge of prolactin within 12 h after its administration. As an abortifacient, aglepristone acted on the uterus and, therefore, did not have direct or immediate luteolytic properties. Termination of pregnancy occurred with high plasma progesterone concentrations. Fetal expulsion was characterized by an increase in the concentration of PGFM, but oxytocin and cortisol remained at basal concentrations.