Intrauterine ethanol-induced termination of pregnancy in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).
The effectiveness of locally applied ethanol in terminating early pregnancy in cynomolgus monkeys was studied. In a randomized trial ethanol (70 per cent, 1 ml.) or saline (0.9 per cent, 1 ml.) was injected extra-amniotically through a sterile blunt-end needdle inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity. Six of seven monkeys receiving ethanol showed vaginal bleeding beginning one or two days after treatment. With the one failure, alcohol leakage occurred from the Luer-lock needle joint at the time of injection and the amount entering the uterus was unknown. No animal receiving saline showed any vaginal bleeding. The six monkeys showing vaginal bleeding were found to have nonenlarged or subnormally enlarged uteri one month after treatment. All monkeys subsequently resumed menstrual cycles within one year. Three monkeys became pregnant and were delivered at term of healthy offspring. Histologic evaluation of uteri from ethanol-treated monkeys revealed necrosis of decidua and, to a lesser degree, of the placenta one day after injection. The high efficacy of 70 per cent ethanol in inducing endometrial sloughing and the documentation of normal subsequent pregnancies in 50 per cent of treated monkeys make this technique worthy of consideration as a menstrual induction agent in women.
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D009336:Necrosis; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000431:Ethanol; D012965:Sodium Chloride