Dexamethasone modulation of gestation length and parturition in rats

Dexamethasone blocks aromatase and phospholipase A2 enzyme activities that are essentially involved in the formation of oestrogens and prostaglandins, the key chemicals to initiate parturition. The present study was undertaken to determine whether dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, could prolong gestation and/or delay parturition in rats. Dexamethasone at 0.5 mg/rat/day from Day 19 through Day 21 of pregnancy consistently prolonged gestation. Only 36% of the pregnant rats had labour with an extended parturition time. Foetal mortality rate was also high. The remaining 64% pregnant rats that did not deliver showed intrauterine foetal death and resorption. Concomitant injection of oestradiol cyclopentylpropionate or prostaglandin F2 alpha on Day 19 effectively reversed the deleterious effects of dexamethasone. 100% of the pregnant rats had successful labour at term. The parturition time and foetal mortality rate were not different from controls. The results, therefore, indicate that an excess glucocorticoid that initiates parturition in sheep conversely prolongs gestation and delays parturition in rats.