Ct. Estill et al., REPEATED ADMINISTRATION OF PROSTAGLANDIN-F(2-ALPHA) DURING THE EARLY LUTEAL-PHASE CAUSES PREMATURE LUTEOLYSIS IN THE PIG, Biology of reproduction, 49(1), 1993, pp. 181-185
Previous investigators considered pig corpora lutea refractory to the
luteolytic effects of prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha before Day 12 of the
estrous cycle. This study was designed to determine whether multiple i
njections of PGR2alpha would result in a sustained reduction of serum
progesterone and luteolysis, leading to significant shortening of the
estrous cycle and interestrous interval. On Days 5-10 of an estrous cy
cle, gilts (n = 4) received injections of 12.5 mg PGF2alpha (dinoprost
tromethamine) i.m. every 12 h, or vehicle (PBS; n = 4) according to t
he same schedule. Mean interestrous interval in PGF2alpha-treated gilt
s was reduced (p < 0.001) to 13.3 +/- 0.5 days compared with 19.8 +/-
0.6 days for control gilts. Serum progesterone declined below 1 ng/ml
by Day 10.5 in PGF2alpha-treated gilts compared to Day 17.5 in control
animals. Serum concentrations of estradiol-17beta (E2) reached maxima
l levels in PGF2alpha-treated gilts earlier (Day 12.5) in the cycle th
an in control gilts (Day 19.5). Peak E2 and LH concentrations coincide
d with the periestrous period, suggesting that PGF2alpha-induced estru
s is accompanied by normal follicular development and ovulation. These
results demonstrate that the pig is susceptible to the luteolytic eff
ects of PGF2alpha before Day 12 if repeated injections are given from
Day 5 through Day 10.