Medical termination of pregnancy in cynomolgus macaques.
BACKGROUND
Although pregnancy is expected during studies of novel contraceptives in non-human primates, gestation, delivery, and lactation remove females from groups for prolonged intervals. As the macaque cervix does not facilitate transcervical surgical termination of pregnancy, we sought to establish a medical termination protocol.


METHODS
A descriptive case series of outcomes of medical termination of pregnancy up to 32 days gestation in cynomolgus monkeys. Efficacy and time to uterine resolution were determined according to medication, dose, and route of administration.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven macaques underwent 65 medical terminations. Over 80% of animals terminated after initial treatment with mifepristone 20 mg intramuscularly (IM). Intrafetal methotrexate was effective for salvage treatment. Medical termination regimens were less effective for animals receiving investigational contraceptive agents.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical termination for macaques is safe and effective. We recommend a protocol with mifepristone 20 mg IM and misoprostol 200 µg buccally as initial treatment.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6460, USA. emicks@u.washington.edu
Elizabeth
E
Micks
Taylor
T
Shekell
Jessica
J
Stanley
Mary
M
Zelinski
Lauren
L
Martin
Serena
S
Riefenberg
Tiffany
T
Adevai
Jeffrey
J
Jensen
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone; D008727:Methotrexate