EVALUATION OF A VAGINAL MOISTURIZER IN BABOONS WITH DECREASING OVARIAN-FUNCTION

Decrease of estrogen concentrations in postmenopausal women leads to m any urogenital problems including vaginal dryness, atrophy, stenosis, itching, and irritation, along with sexual dysfunction. Systemic estro gen replacement is effective in many women but may not be effective in others because estrogen therapy may be contraindicated for medical re asons. The reproductive tract in nonhuman female primates has been use d successfully as a model for a variety of research including, but not limited to, anatomy and physiology, reproduction, cancer, infectious disease, and menopause. The baboon is especially valuable because of t he similarity of its menstrual cycle to women's, prior research with t his animal, and its adaptability to captivity. A nonhormonal, nonsyste mic, bio-adhesive vaginal moisturizer was evaluated in baboons as a po ssible alternative to hormonal therapy for vaginal symptoms due to a d ecrease in estrogen concentrations. Eight baboons with decreasing ovar ian function were used in a two part study to evaluate vaginal health with pliability, elasticity, mucosal secretion, pH, and histologic fea tures as criteria. The first study involved a single intravaginally ad ministered dose of test product, with evaluation at 20 min and 24 h la ter. The second study consisted of five doses given at 24-h intervals, with daily evaluations for 9 consecutive days. There was marked impro vement in vaginal pliability, elasticity, and secretions, with decreas ed pH and thickness of the vaginal epithelium. These effects appeared 1 or 2 days after drug administration, reached the maximum on day 4, a nd mostly decreased by day 8. However, increased secretions, vaginal e lasticity, and vacuolization of the epithelium in biopsy specimens per sisted to the last day of observation. The study results indicate the efficacy of the test product and the value of the baboon as a model to study decreasing ovarian function and vaginal health.