title: Contraceptive effect and potential side-effects of deslorelin acetate implants in rats (Rattus norvegicus): preliminary observations.
abstract: During the last ten years, numerous species have been treated with deslorelin implants to induce contraception. The aims of the study were 1) to assess contraceptive efficacy of 4.7 mg subcutaneous deslorelin implants in rats, 2) to determine the latency of contraceptive effect, and 3) to determine potential side effects. Three experimental females were implanted and their estrous cycle was studied by vaginal smear. Two weeks after implantation, a male whose fertility was previously assessed with a control female, was introduced into their cage. No female conceived during the 4 mo following implantation. Additionally, 38 pet rats were recruited from clients in practice to test for potential side effects, including 6 males and 32 females with a mean age of 14 mo. Local reaction and transient weight gain during the first 2 wk, as well as behavioral changes were recorded. According to this pilot study, deslorelin implant could be used as a contraceptive method in female rats. The latency period is about 2 wk. Nevertheless, it might be possible to refine the treatment further using hormonal measurements. The duration of contraceptive effect is to be determined in an upcoming study.
authors.affiliation: Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service, University of Davis, California 95616, USA. grosset@gmail.com
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grosset
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peron
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Figuéra
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D004343:Drug Implants; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; C066438:deslorelin