EFFECTS OF ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-INHIBITOR CILAZAPRIL AND ANGIOTENSIN-II ANTAGONIST SARALASIN IN OVARIAN HYPERSTIMULATION SYNDROME IN THE RABBIT

We investigated the possible effects of the angiotensin converting enz yme (A CE) inhibitor cilazapril and angiotensin II antagonist saralasi n on ovulation, ovarian steroidogenesis and ascites formation in the o varian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in the rabbit model. OHSS was induced in rabbits by human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and intermit tent human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In the cilazapril group (n = 10), animals also received cilazapril 2 mg/kg intraperitoneally daily for 7 days. In the saralasin group (n = 8), animals received saralasin intraperitoneally 1 h before or 1 h after hCG administration. Control animals (n = 8) received intraperitoneal saline solution. Serial bloo d samples were drawn on days 1, 5, 7 and 9 to measure serum estradiol and progesterone levels. On day 9, all rabbits underwent surgical expl oration. Peritoneal and pleural fluid formation, ovarian weights and n umber of ovulations were determined. The volume of the ascitic and ple ural fluids after hyperstimulation were not statistically different be tween the control, cilazapril and saralasin groups. The weight gains a nd ovarian weights of animals were similar between treatment and contr ol groups. Saralasin significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited ovulation, but cilazapril did not. Cilazapril and saralasin did not affect progester one production. Only cilazapril significantly decreased estradiol prod uction (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the ACE inhibitor cilazapril and ang iotensin II antagonist saralasin did not prevent ascites formation in OHSS. The ovarian renin-angiotensin system may not be the only factor acting in ascites formation in the OHSS.