Effect of vaginally administered (Ala 8,13,18)-magainin II amide on the morphology of implantation stage endometrium in the rhesus monkey ( Macaca mulatta)

• Published in: Contraception (Stoneham) 2001-06, Vol.63 (6), p.335-342
• Main Authors: Ghosh, D, Dhawan, Latika, Lalitkumar, P.G.L, Wong, Viviana, Rosario, J.F, Hendrickx, A.G, Lasley, B.L, Overstreet, J.W, Sengupta, Jayasree
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Intravaginal; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - adverse effects; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Embryo Implantation - drug effects; Embryo Implantation - physiology; Endometrium; Endometrium - anatomy & histology; Endometrium - blood supply; Endometrium - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - ultrastructure; Epithelial Cells - ultrastructure; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Implantation; Macaca mulatta; Magainin; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Microscopy, Electron; Morphology; Other methods of contraception. Sterilization; Peptides - administration & dosage; Pregnancy; Rhesus monkey
• ISSN: 0010-7824; 1879-0518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0010-7824(01)00211-6

Intravaginal administration of an anti-microbial agent, (Ala 8,13,18)-magainin II amide, during blastocyst implantation inhibits pregnancy establishment in a dose-related manner in the rhesus monkey ( Macaca mulatta). In the present study, mated female rhesus monkeys were vaginally inserted with tampons containing vehicle (Group 1; n = 5) and test agent (magainin, 0.5 mg/animal; Group 2; n = 6) on cycle day 20. Endometrial tissue samples were collected on Cycle Day 24 from all monkeys and processed for morphometric and ultrastructural analysis. Concentrations of estradiol-17β, progesterone, and chorionic gonadotrophin in peripheral circulation were determined, which revealed that two monkeys in Group 1 were pregnant while no animals were pregnant in Group 2. Endometrial morphology, however, revealed histologic evidence of pregnancy in three out of the six magainin-treated animals. It appears that intra-vaginal administration of magainin II amide had a marginal effect on the implantation stage endometrium and the initiation of the implantation process in the rhesus monkey.