Fenprostalene in cattle: Evaluation of oxytocic effects in ovariectomized cows and abortion potential in a 100-day pregnant cow

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 467 - 480
• Main Authors: Garcia-Villar, R., Marnet, P.G., Laurentie, M.P., Toutain, P.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: ABORTION; ABORTO; Animal biology; AVORTEMENT; cattle; COWS; fenprostalene; GESTACION; GESTATION; Life Sciences; OSVACHE; OVARIECTOMIA; OVARIECTOMIE; OVARIECTOMY; PREGNANCY; prostaglandin F2α; PROSTAGLANDINAS; PROSTAGLANDINE; PROSTAGLANDINS; uterine motility; UTERO; UTERUS; VACA; Veterinary medicine and animal Health; prostaglandin F2α; cattle; uterine motility; fenprostalene
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/0093-691X(87)90251-2

Four ovariectomized cows were used to compare the uterotonic (oxytocic) properties of the prostaglandins F2α analogue fenprostalene to cloprostenol and PGF2α-tromethamine salt (dinoprost). Uterine activity was measured by electromyography with the duration and magnitude of activity quantified by microcomputer. The administration of 1 mg of fenprostalene to estradiol primed animals significantly increased uterine motility for approximately 19 h. This was significantly longer than the duration observed for either cloprostenol (500 μg, i.m., 8.9 h) or dinoprost (25 mg, i.m., 7.7 h). However, the level of activity was similar for the 3 compounds tested, with postinjection levels of oxytocic effect averaging 369 % for treated animals compared to 100 % for controls. Therefore, the difference in effects for the three prostaglandins may be due more to pharmacokinetic properties rather than to different potencies of the three compounds. In addition, a pregnant cow (100 d gestation) was treated with fenprostalene (1 mg, s.c.). Fenprostalene treatment resulted in unchanged uterine activity for a 6-h period, followed by a four-fold increase in genital tract activity which lasted for 12 h. Thereafter, activity was inhibited for one day, followed by a sharp increase in uterine activity leading to abortion within 66 to 72 h after fenprostalene injection. The placenta was expelled 7 days after treatment.