Effect of a Synthetic Prostaglandin Analogue on Pregnancy in Beagle Bitches

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Abstract
Eleven pregnant bitches were treated at different stages of gestation with a single s.c. injection of 20 µg/kg aqueous buffered solution of a synthetic prostaglandin analogue (TPT). Abortion was observed 5.4 ± 1.4 days after treatment in all 5 bitches treated between Days 30-43 of pregnancy. Two of 4 animals treated on Days 20-22 of pregnancy continued to normal term. The remaining 2 animals treated at this stage, although diagnosed pregnant by palpation on Day 28 of gestation, did not deliver and were considered to have resorbed the products of conception. Two bitches treated on Day 9 of pregnancy continued to uneventful term gestation. All treated animals showed a precipitous fall in plasma progesterone at 4 h posttreatment. In animals that aborted or resorbed the decline in plasma progesterone continued, whereas it returned to normal in bitches continuing gestation. Hypothermia was observed in all treated animals for 4 h posttreatment, followed by hyperthermia 6 h posttreatment. Aborting bitches showed a significantly greater (P<0.05) degree of hypothermia than those continuing to term. TPT appears to be the first PG analogue capable of aborting beagle bitches on or after the 30th day of gestation when administered as a single s.c. injection.