Aglepristone (RU534) administration to non-pregnant bitches in the mid-luteal phase induces early luteal regression

The effect of the antiprogestagen aglepristone (10 mg/kg bw), administered at days 29 and 30 following the estimated day of LH surge (day 0), on corpora lutea (CL) function was examined during the diestrus phase of non-pregnant bitches. Aglepristone shortened (P < 0.01) the luteal phase and complete luteolysis (progesterone <2 ng/mL) was observed at days 40.8 +/- 3.5 and 71.5 +/- 4.6 (means +/- SD; n = 9/group) in treated and control bitches, respectively. Peripheral estradiol-17 beta concentrations declined from 91.5 +/- 14.3 pg/mL at day 9 to 50 pg/mL at day 18, remaining at approximately the same levels thereafter in both treated and control bitches. Intraluteal in vitro synthesis of progesterone and estradiol-17 beta released by CL explanted at day 38 from control bitches (511.9 +/- 285.6 and 40.7 +/- 17.2 pg/mg protein, respectively) did not differ from that of treated. From day 38, intraovarian hemodynamic variables (arterial blood flow, systolic peak, and end-diastolic velocities), monitored by color-coded and pulsed Doppler, decreased more steeply (P < 0.01) in aglepristone-treated (n = 4) than in control (n = 4) bitches, whereas the resistance index increased (P < 0.01) in treated animals. All the blood flow parameters were undetectable at 60 +/- 3.6 and 68 +/- 2.0 days (medians +/- SD) after LH peak in treated and control bitches, respectively. In conclusion, aglepristone administration to dogs during the mid-luteal phase markedly accelerates the luteolytic process which is accompanied by a parallel decline in ovarian blood flow supply with a shift from approximately 8 to 10 days. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.