Termination of pregnancy in the rat by RMI 12,936.

Administration of a steroid RMI 12,936 (2 MG) ON DAY 8 OF PREGNANCY RESULted in an interruption of gestation within 5 days. No significant changes in progesterone (delta 4P), 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20 alpha-DHP) and pregnenolone (delta 5P) were recorded during the course of termination of pregnancy by RMI 12,936. However, a significant rise in serum delta 4P and hypertropic corpora lutea were evident on day 13 of pregnancy when all treated females showed dead conceptus. The placental tissue was still present at the time of pregnancy termination. On the other hand, serum LH levels was significantly suppressed 24 hr after the treatment and maintained at a very low level. The reduction of LH might be due to a lowered hypophyseal sensitivity towards LH-RH. The occurrence of in utero dead fetus without interference of delta 4P production suggests that in the rat RMI 12,936-induced termination of pregnancy is due to its embryotoxic rather than luteolytic effect. Although the treated females did not return to normal estrous cycles for a period of 2 weeks after pregnancy termination, they were sexually receptive. Successful mating resulted in normal pregnancy which occurred 30-35 days after RMI 12,936 treatment.