Pregnancy and progeny in rats treated with prostaglandin F1 alpha

Studies on the influence of PGF1 alpha on reproductive processes in humans and laboratory animals are lacking. PGF1 alpha was administered s.c. to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats at doses of 50, 100, and 200 micrograms, respectively, from days 12 through 15 of gestation. The offspring, recovered by cesarean section on gestational day 20, were all alive and showed no anomalies. The incidence of fetal resorptions was not significantly increased. However, PGF1 alpha caused intrauterine growth retardation and placental damage. There was no morphological evidence of luteolysis.