Morphologic evidence for vaginal toxicity of Delfen contraceptive cream in the rat

The morphologic effects of Delfen contraceptive cream on the female genital tract were evaluated in young female rats given a single per vaginum application (0.1 g/100 g) of this spermicidal agent. Control rats received intravaginal instillates of 0.1 ml/100 g of physiological saline. Immediately after dosing, the vulvas of one-half of the treated and control females were shut by metallic clips to prevent leakage of the material. The females were killed 24 h post-treatment. The genital tracts of all control females were unremarkable. Treated females, with or without vulvar labial apposition, developed acute cervico-vaginitis of varied intensity, but as many as half of those without labial apposition failed to develop any pathologic changes. It was concluded that Delfen cream is capable of causing genital tract injury in rats similar to that induced by an aqueous solution of the active ingredient, nonoxynol-9, and that the incidence of this effect is enhanced if leakage of the cream is prevented by application of vulvar clips.