Pregnancy and fetal development in hamsters treated with prostaglandin F2 alpha.

The influence of PGF2 alpha on pregnancy and fetal outcome was investigated in the hamster. Following subcutaneous treatment with 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 micrograms PGF2 alpha prenatal loss was significantly increased only at the highest dose level. The offspring of the treated animals were all alive and normal. Fetal weight was not affected. However, following intravenous injection of 100 and 200 micrograms PGF2 alpha there was a significant reduction in fetal weight, and at the 400 micrograms dose level an increase in fetal indicate that PGF2 alpha is not teratogenic in hamsters despite the apparent greater sensitivity of the hamster embryo to prostaglandin.