title: Effects of SCH 486757, a nociceptin-1 receptor agonist, on fertility and reproductive hormone levels in female CRL:CD®[SD] rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  SCH 486757 is a nociceptin-1 receptor agonist that was in development as an antitussive. Studies were conducted to characterize its effects on female fertility and to examine its potential modes of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female rats were administered up to 20 mg/kg SCH 486757 before/during mating through gestation day (GD) 7; female fertility and embryonic development were assessed on GD 14. In a subsequent study, pregnant rats were dosed up to 50 mg/kg SCH 486757 from GD 0 to 7. Reproductive hormones were assessed on GD 1, 3, 5, and 7, and embryonic development was assessed on GD 14. A subset of dosed dams were allowed to deliver, were subsequently re-mated, and reproductive hormones and fertility were assessed on GD 7 and 14, respectively. To determine the effects of SCH 486757 on nonpregnant rats, doses of up to 50 mg/kg SCH 486757 were administered for 4 days beginning on the day of estrus; reproductive hormones were assessed after the final dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female rats administered ≥20 mg/kg SCH 486757 exhibited abnormal estrous cycles; decreased fertility, number of corpora lutea, and implantation sites; and increased pre- and postimplantation loss. In general, administration of SCH486757 was associated with lower luteinizing hormone (LH) progesterone (P4), and estradiol (E2) levels in pregnant rats. These effects on fertility/embryonic development and reproductive hormones exhibited reversibility post dosing. Nonpregnant rats in the 50-mg/kg group exhibited apparent decreases in P4 and E2 levels, with no apparent effects on LH values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SCH 486757-related effects on fertility and embryonic development were likely the result of decreases in P4, E2, and/or LH, rather than being due to decreased prolactin levels.
authors.affiliation: Merck Research Laboratories, Summit, New Jersey 07901, USA.
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Enright
authors.forename: Barry S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Barat
authors.forename: Kimberley A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Treinen
authors.forename: Stephan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kopytek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002585:Cesarean Section; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor
chemical_list: D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006728:Hormones; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; C549545:8-(bis(2-chlorophenyl)methyl)-3-(2-pyrimidinyl)-8-azabicyclo(3.2.1)octan-3-ol; C000722285:Oprl1 protein, rat