Effect of an IUD on implantation and the decidual reaction in different strains of mice

Intrauterine contraceptive devices: failure of unilateral intrauterine device in inducing luteolysis in rabbits, rats and mice

Insertion of a unilateral intrauterine device (IUD) on day 1 pc in rabbits and rats or day 2 pc in mice is found to interrupt pregnancy in the device-bearing uterine horn, but does not affect blastocyst implantation or fetal development of the contralateral side. It is also evident that following surgical ablation of the ovary of the non-IUD side, the ovary of the IUD-bearing side can effectively maintain pregnancy and fetal growth as in controls. The possible mode of action of the IUD has been discussed.

Effects of intrauterine devices on nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid metabolism in rabbit blastocysts: an autoradiographic study

A metabolic parameter, DNA synthesis, was measured in rabbit blastocysts exposed to Silastic intrauterine devices (IUDs) and compared with those without IUD exposure. Autoradiographic detection of 3H-thymidine uptake showed that the IUD-exposed blastocysts contained fewer labeled cells than their IUD-free equivalents. The depressed DNA synthesis may be caused by either a block in the cell cycle or a block in DNA synthesis itself. Either way, the result could be consistent with the observation that embryo deaths occur at all growth stages, preimplantation, during implantation, and postimplantation.