Effect of copper intrauterine devices on the chemical composition of rabbit oviduct fluid.
Oviduct fluid, collected from 65 mature, female rabbits in estrus and in which a modified copper intrauterine device (IUD) was introduced by laparotomy in one of the uterine horns, was examined for chemical composition. No differences were noted for sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and bicarbonate between the two sides. The copper content was found to be significantly higher in the IUD side (12.80 +/- 3.01 microgram/100 ml), as compared to the control side (9.0 +/- 1.0 microgram/100 ml), the toxicity of which, to blastocyst development, has been reported in some cases. Total protein in the experimental side was significantly higher (258.52 +/- 36.22 mg/100 ml) than in the control side (156.67 +/- 26.45 mg/100 ml). The same was found for sialic acid, 5.30 +/- 0.62 microgram/ml, compared to 3.66 +/- 0.27 microgram/ml, suggesting that a part of the increased protein can be ascribed to glycoprotein. Oviduct fluid glucose was found to be lower in the copper IUD side than in the control side (10.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 17.7 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml). These findings may be explained on the basis of an inflammatory process, taking place in the side of the copper IUD, and should be used with cautiousness in adolescent, and nulligravidae women.
D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis
D011506:Proteins; D012794:Sialic Acids; D003300:Copper; D005947:Glucose