Effects of (15S)-15-methyl prostaglandin E2 alpha methyl ester and estrogens upon the corpus luteum and conceptus of the rhesus monkey

Prostaglandins in the ovary and fallopian tube

More than 20 years following the recognition of a possible role for eicosanoids in ovarian function a physiological role for prostaglandins and/or leukotrienes in human ovulation, corpus luteum function and tubal motility remains to be demonstrated. With respect to ovarian function, the well-characterized preovulatory rise in eicosanoid production in animal species and humans, in conjunction with the large body of experimental evidence employing inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis and replacement of individual prostaglandins, has provided strong evidence for a role in follicular rupture independent of other LH-mediated ovulatory events. The possible mechanism of prostaglandin-induced follicle rupture may involve stimulation of proteolytic activity via substances such as plasmin and PA; however, this is controversial. A role for prostaglandins in ovarian luteal function is well established in laboratory animals and large ruminant species, where PGF2 alpha derived from the uterus has been demonstrated to be the luteolytic factor. In humans, luteal function may be influenced by local intraovarian eicosanoid production, which has been suggested to involve the paracrine interaction of local ovarian hormones such as oxytocin, noradrenaline, insulin and IGFs, to name but a few. Several lines of evidence have also implicated prostaglandins as an aetiological factor in ovarian pathological states such as seen in the OHSS. However, the bulk of clinical experimental evidence to date has failed to support this contention. Prostaglandin production has likewise been well characterized in the fallopian tube in both humans and animal species. Whereas a role for prostaglandins in tubal transport has been demonstrated with animal species such as the rabbit, several studies have failed to define a similar function in humans. More recently, direct injections of prostaglandin analogues into the fallopian tube and the corpus luteum have been shown to be efficacious as a treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Whether the primary mechanism of action involves effects on tubal musculature or corpus luteum function, or is simply a local vascular effect, remains to be demonstrated. Therefore, although the physiological role for eicosanoids in ovarian and tubal function remains unclear, particularly in the human, an increasing body of recent evidence has suggested an important paracrine function for this class of cellular mediators whose interaction with other more recently characterized local ovarian factors has only begun to be recognized.

Additional studies on pregnancy termination and inhibition of the monkey corpus luteum with 5-oxa-17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinor-PGF1 alpha methyl ester and structurally related prostaglandins

Oral administration of 5-oxa-17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinor-PGF1 alpha methyl ester (PGF-analog) resulted in a consistent and dose-dependent inhibition of corpus luteum progesterone production in nonpregnant rhesus monkeys concomitantly treated with human chorionic gonadotropin. Similarly, vaginal suppositories containing PGF-analog also inhibited the monkey corpus luteum. Side effects by the oral route of administration were minimal, whereas side effects following vaginal treatment with PGF-analog were higher. Five prostaglandins with structural similarity to PGF-analog were studied for their ability to inhibit the monkey corpus luteum, but none showed an advantage over the parent molecule. PGF-analog did not synergize with 9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9-methylene-PGE2 for the inhibition of the monkey corpus luteum, nor did it synergize with (15S)-15-methyl-PGF2 alpha methyl ester for the interruption of early pregnancy in the monkey. 9-Deoxo-9-methylene-5-oxa-17-phenyl-18,19-20-trinor-PGE1 methyl ester did not terminate early gestation in the monkey at doses of 8 or 24 mg.

An intra-corpus luteum site for the luteolytic action of prostaglandin F2 alpha in the rhesus monkey

It has not been possible to demonstrate prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) participation in primate luteolysis under conditions of systemic administration or of acute intraluteal injection. These study designs were hampered by the short biological half-life in the first instance and brevity of administration in the latter. In this study, luteolysis has resulted from chronic, intraluteal delivery of PGF2 alpha. Using the Alzet osmotic pump-cannula system, normally cycling rhesus monkeys were continuously infused, until menses occurred, with PGF2 alpha (10 ng/1/hr) directly into the corpus luteum (CL, n = 6), into the stroma of the ovary not bearing the corpus luteum (NCL, n = 3), or subcutaneously (SC, n = 5). An additional 5 monkeys received vehicle (V) into the corpus luteum. All experiments commenced 5-7 days after the preovulatory estradiol surge. Luteal function was assessed by the daily measurements of plasma progesterone, estradiol, and LH. Intraluteal PGF2 alpha caused premature functional luteolysis in all monkeys, as reflected by a highly significant decline in circulating progesterone and estradiol and the early onset of menstruation, when compared to the other groups. V, NCL, and SC infusions had no effect on either circulating steroid levels or luteal phase lengths. None of the experimental groups showed any change in plasma LH concentrations. These are the first data to indicate that PGF2 alpha can induce functional luteolysis in the primate, and the site of action appears to be the corpus luteum.

Pregnancy interception with a combination of prostaglandins: studies in monkeys

Treatment with combinations of synthetic prostaglandins, one with an ovarian site of action and one with a uterine site of action, terminated pregnancy in all rhesus monkeys given the injection on day 28 of fertile menstrual cycles. Single prostaglandins, even at higher doses, interrupted pregnancy in only one-third of the monkeys. The most effective treatment, 5-oxa-17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinor prostaglandin F1 alpha methyl ester plus 9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9-methylene prostaglandin E2, promptly intercepted early pregnancy after a single administration and without side effects.

Inhibition of the monkey corpus luteum with 15-methyl prostaglandins

The corpus luteum inhibiting properties of eighteen 15-methyl prostaglandin analogs were determined in the rhesus monkey during concomitant stimulation of the corpus luteum with chorionic gonadotropin. The methyl ester of (15S)-15-methyl PGF2 alpha (15M-PGF2 alpha, 12.5 mg/monkey) lowered serum progesterone to 12% of pretreatment values within 24 hours, however progesterone returned to normal limits within 48 hours. Elongation of the top side-chain by two carbons (2a,2b-dihomo-15M-PGF2 alpha methyl ester, 13 mg/monkey), substitution of a hydroxymethyl group at carbon 1 (2-decarboxy-2-hydroxymethyl-15M-PGF2 alpha, 12 mg/monkey), or the formation of the carbon 1 amide (15M-PGF2 alpha amide, 12.5 mg/monkey) improved the inhibitory activity of 15M-PGF2 alpha; serum progesterone for these 3 analogs was depressed to 15-30% of pretreatment levels within 24 hours, and did not return to control values. Luteal function was not inhibited (12 or more mg/monkey) when the 15-methyl group was placed in the R configuration, the top side chain was shortened by two carbons, an amino group was substituted for carbon 1, the 5-oxa modification was added, or the 1,9-lactone was formed. Some other modifications of 15M-PGF2 alpha were also inactive, although not all were tested at equivalent doses: 2,2-difluoro; 4,5-cis-didehydro; 9,11-dideoxy-9 alpha, 11 alpha-dichloro; 11-deoxy; 17-phenyl; 1,15-lactone; and the p-benzamidophenyl ester of 2a,2b-dihomo-15M-PGF2 alpha. (15S)-15-Methyl PGE2 methyl ester (1 mg/monkey) depressed serum progesterone concentrations to 42% of pretreatment values within 24 hours; 2a,2b-dihomo-11-deoxy-(15S)-15-methyl PGE2 methyl ester was inactive (5 mg/monkey). A corpus luteum inhibiting action of certain 15-methyl prostaglandins can be demonstrated in the rhesus monkey.