title: Luteolytic effects of prostaglandin F2alpha on day 8 to 19 corpora lutea in the bitch.
abstract: Luteolysis was induced in 5 experimental Beagle (8 cycles) and 7 client-owned bitches treated with 150 to 200 microg/kg, sc of prostaglandin F2alpha administered twice daily for 4 d, starting on Days 8 to 19 after the onset of cytological diestrus. Five experimental Beagle bitches had been mated during the estrus preceding treatment, and copulation had been confirmed in 2/7 client-owned bitches presented for termination of unwanted pregnancy. Serum progesterone concentration (mean +/- SD) declined from 26.1 +/- 66 ng/ml before treatment to 0.3 +/- 0.4 ng/ml on the fourth day of treatment One of the 7 client-owned bitches maintained her pregnancy even though serum progesterone concentrations were less than 0.5 ng/ml on the third and fourth day of treatment. Mean (+/- SEM) inter-estrous intervals before and following prostaglandin-induced luteolysis were 207.3 +/- 12.4 (n = 11 cycles in 6 bitches) and 95.5 +/- 20.0 d (n = 6 cycles in the same 6 bitches; P < 0.0001), respectively These results suggest that effective prostaglandin-induced luteolysis can be achieved with administration of 180 microg/kg during the third week of diestrus in pregnant and nonpregnant bitches.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Speciale e Clinica Chirurgica, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria Università degli Studi di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camillo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novellini
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cela