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Simple Summary: Different strategies for the termination of pregnancy in humans have proven to be efficient and safe. However, few studies have investigated the utility of these regimens in non-human primates. Therefore, this review discusses the most relevant research reporting the termination of viable and non-viable pregnancies in primates. An overview of the clinically applicable drugs is presented, including dosage, administration route, safety, and efficacy. Limited information is available concerning the termination of pregnancy in non-human primates. Thus, a comprehensive review of this topic will be beneficial for veterinary staff in laboratories, zoos, and wildlife rehabilitation centers. The most relevant studies concerning the termination of viable and non-viable pregnancy in non-human primates were analyzed, and dosages, administration routes, adverse effects, and the efficacy of the drugs used are reported. The literature revealed that termination of pregnancy is most commonly performed in marmosets and macaques. The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol was reported to be effective and fast-acting in terminating first-trimester pregnancy in macaques, while cloprostenol was identified as the best agent for use in marmosets. This review also provides insights about the limitations of previously described methods of pregnancy termination and discusses potential alternatives and areas for future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the time course of biodegradation of an intracameral, biodegradable, sustained-release bimatoprost implant that lowers intraocular pressure without the need for daily eye drops. Methods: In 2 identically designed, randomized, phase 3 clinical trials, adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension and open iridocorneal angles inferiorly in the study eye were administered 10- or 15-μg bimatoprost implant (day 1 and weeks 16 and 32) or twice-daily topical timolol 0.5%. Implants were assessed on gonioscopy throughout the studies. Investigators reported whether implants were visible, estimated the size of visible implants relative to their initial size at implantation, and reported the implant location. Data for 10-μg implant placed on day 1 were pooled from both studies for analysis. Results: A total of 372 patients received the 10-μg bimatoprost implant. The degree of implant biodegradation at each follow-up time point was variable among patients. The implant frequently swelled during the initial phase of biodegradation from 6 to 28 weeks. Accelerated biodegradation occurred between 31 and 52 weeks, resulting in 82% of implants absent or ≤25% of initial size by 52 weeks. By month 20, 95% of implants had biodegraded to absent or ≤25% of initial size. The implant was predominantly located inferiorly in the iridocorneal angle. Conclusions: Bimatoprost implant biodegradation in phase 3 studies showed some degree of variability among patients. Clinically significant implant biodegradation was observed in the majority of patients by 12 months. Clinical studies are in progress to further understand implant biodegradation and the ideal timing for implant re-administration. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02247804; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02250651.

Several farrowing induction programs have been used to increase the proportion of sow farrowing during the work period and the rate of farrowing supervision, as well as to promote the success of cross-fostering and the practice of all-in all-out in swine production. The present overview aimed to evaluate the effects of farrowing induction on farrowing duration, birth interval, birth weight, dystocia/birth assistance, and stillbirth in pigs. The results showed that via different routes of administration, either natural or synthetic prostaglandins alone or in combination mostly with uterotonic drugs, including oxytocin and carbetocin, have been used for the induction of farrowing. Sometimes other drugs, such as dexamethasone, estradiol, xylazine, ergometrine, and AGN190851, were added. Vulvar and perinatal routes reduced the intramuscular dose of prostaglandins by 50% to 75%, while equal effects remained. A split dose of prostaglandin 6 h apart should be used because it may enhance complete luteolysis. Additionally, if uterotonic drugs are used following prostaglandin injection, they should be injected after the birth of the first piglets at the earliest timepoint to ensure full opening of the cervix. These two practices decrease the farrowing duration, the birth interval, and dystocia. Induction should not be conducted more than 2 days earlier than the expected farrowing date in order to keep the stillbirth rate and birth weight unaltered. This review also revealed that certain factors, such as the rate of farrowing supervision, natural differences in piglets' birth weights, litter size, gestation length, and treatment with altrenogest before induction, may be confounding factors that possibly alter the effect of induction programs on certain farrowing characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report discusses the pharmacological induction of parturition in a pacarana (Dinomys branickii), a rare South American rodent with a reproductive biology that is still poorly understood. The aim of this case report was to induce labor in a pacarana in the final third of gestation after fetal death was confirmed due to a maternal cardiopulmonary arrest lasting 4 min. Using a pharmacological protocol similar to that applied in ruminants, the induction of labor was successfully carried out, resulting in the expulsion of two dead fetuses 2 h and 15 min after the administration of cloprostenol (0.275 mg; im) and dexamethasone (4 mg; im). This case, the first documented instance of pharmacological induction in pacarana, underscores the efficacy of the procedure and the need for further research to understand the reproductive physiology of the species, potentially aiding in the conservation of this and other Hystricomorpha species.

The present study aimed at examining the association between different risk factors and intrapartum stillbirth in piglets born from cloprostenol-induced farrowing sows. This study enrolled 898 piglets born within 77 Landrace x Yorkshire sows subjected to farrowing induction using cloprostenol at day 114 of gestation. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used to determine important indicators for intrapartum stillbirth at the piglet level. Investigated risk factors included parity, gestation length, litter size, birth order, piglets’ gender, birth interval, cumulative farrowing duration, birth weight, crown-rump length, body mass index, ponderal index, and birth weight deviation. The stillbirth rate was 5.3%. Intrapartum stillbirth accounted for 79.2% of all stillbirths. Body conformation traits (birth weight, birth weight deviation, body mass index, and ponderal index), birth order, and cumulative farrowing duration were important indicators for intrapartum stillbirth. Birth order (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.13–1.37), birth interval (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.01–1.02), birth weight deviation (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.69–0.88), and ponderal index (OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.91–0.99) were selected in the model that best explained the variation of stillbirth (marginal R2 = 0.31, conditional R2 = 0.54). Results of this study highlight the importance of body size and shape, birth order, and birth interval in prediction of the intrapartum stillbirth of piglets born from cloprostenol-induced farrowing sows.

This study was conducted to develop a particular sorbent for the selective extraction of the luteolytic drug cloprostenol from milk samples. Cloprostenol's luteolytic activity has been proved in animals, whereas the production of prostaglandins is discussed extensively in the literature, while extraction of cloprostenol is rarely discussed. The major objective was to get sufficient molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for selective extraction and detection of cloprostenol. After a series of experiment, MIPs and their analogues NIPs, were synthesized. In these experiments, radical polymerization with non-covalent interactions has been used to synthesize MIPs and NIPs. Different parameters to determine the optimization conditions such as solvent volume, cross-linker, and template ratio were studied in various sets to get better possible characteristics of MIPs. The HPLC was used to evaluate the retention capacity which ranges from 68.5% to 94.1%. The mechanism of adsorption was studied by the isothermal assay and kinetic studies. The kinetic studies exhibited a high retention capacity within 20 min of MIPs contact. The percentage of polymer yield ranged from 53.5% to 92.3%. HPLC coupled with a UV detector showed the limit of detection and limit of quantification of 30.5 ng/mL and 86.7 ng/mL, respectively, for the determination of analytes from milk samples. The recovery of cloprostenol for all spiked samples of milk was higher than 91.54%. Furthermore, the studies showed that MIPs are specific in the adsorption of cloprostenol compared to its other structural analogues. The outcomes also showed the significance of cross-linker concentration and the amount of solvent during the process of polymerization. These parameters greatly affect the preorganization of complementary functional groups, meanwhile, it creates specific cavities for the targeted drugs.

There are a variety of hormonal protocols and products on the market, but it is still unclear how they will work on specific field conditions. The efficacy of using different forms of prostaglandin F2a analogues such as dinoprost and cloprostenol in a FGA-based estrus synchronization protocols were compared in sheep. For this purpose, on the basis of a completely randomized design, 60 ewes (Tsigai breed, Rusty variety; 2-4-years old, mean body score of 2.5 ± 0.5) were divided into two estrus synchronization treatment groups, which included: fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponges for 11 days, with the administration of an intramuscular injection of 5 mg of dinoprost on the 9-day, followed by 300 IU PMSG at the time of sponge withdrawal (FGA-D-PMSG group, n=30), and for the other group, the same synchronization protocol was followed, with the difference that instead of dinoprost, ewes received 75 µg of cloprostenol (FGA-C-PMSG group, n=30). The estrus response rate percentage (%ERR) ranged between 76.66% (FGA-C-PMSG group) and 93.33% (FGA-D-PMSG group). In this study, it is shown that the type of PGF2a (natural or synthetic) can influence the results of a 11-day FGA-PGF2a-PMSG synchronization protocol, in terms of occurrence of estrus behaviour. Additionally, hormonal treatments cost for each protocol was calculated in order to determine the most cost-effective method and whether it can be implemented in small and large-scale sheep farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudopregnancy is a state of temporary infertility in goats characterised by the accumulation of sterile fluid in the uterus in the absence of a foetus with persistent corpus luteum. B-mode ultrasonographic examination of goats on day 60 post-breeding was conducted for differential diagnosis of pregnancy, non-pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. Pseudopregnant does diagnosed on day 60 (day 0) post-breeding (Group I, n=8) were treated with three doses of 125µg of cloprostenol sodium (i/m) 10 days apart and were bred by natural service on induced oestrus after the third dose of treatment. The response to treatment was evaluated and compared with normal cycling does (Group II, n=8) which were mated on spontaneous oestrus. The uterine wall thickness measured ultrasonographically on day 0 in group I and on day 60 post-breeding in pregnant does of group II were 0.63 ± 0.02 and 0.66±0.03 cm, respectively (P >0.05). Serum progesterone concentration estimated on day 0, day of the evacuation of uterine fluid, days 10 and 20 in group I and on day 60 post-breeding in group II were 2.73 ± 0.19, 0.78± 0.19, 1.67 ± 0.10, 1.72 ± 0.19 and 3.64± 0.16 ng/mL, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between day 0 in group I and day 60 in group II; within group I, between day 0 and the day of evacuation and between the day of evacuation and day 10. Pregnancy diagnosis on day 60 post-breeding revealed a conception rate of 50 and 75 per cent in groups I and II, respectively (P>0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Objectives were to evaluate the effect of 2 analogs of PGF2α (cloprostenol vs. dinoprost) and 2 doses (1 injection vs. 2 injections) on luteolysis, follicle diameter, hormonal concentrations, and time to ovulation in dairy heifers. Holstein heifers were fitted with automated estrus detection devices and had their estrous cycle synchronized using PGF2α and an intravaginal insert containing progesterone. Heifers detected in estrus were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: cloprostenol on d 7 after estrus (CLOx1; n = 45), cloprostenol on d 7 and 8 after estrus (CLOx2; n = 41), dinoprost on d 7 after estrus (DINx1; n = 43), or dinoprost on d 7 and 8 after estrus (DINx2; n = 44). Treatment with the first injection of PGF2α was defined as experiment d 0. Area and blood flow of corpus luteum (CL) and diameter of follicles >5 mm were recorded every 12 h from d 0 to estrus and every 6 h thereafter until ovulation. Blood was sampled every 6 h from d 0 until ovulation. Heifers treated with cloprostenol had shorter interval to luteolysis (± SEM; CLOx1 = 23.5 ± 2.2, CLOx2 = 22.9 ± 2.2, DINx1 = 32.6 ± 2.7, DINx2 = 26.4 ± 2.1 h); however, time to ovulation was not affected by treatment. A smaller proportion of heifers treated with a single injection of PGF2α underwent luteolysis compared with heifers treated with 2 injections (CLOx1 = 84.6 ± 6.2, CLOx2 = 100.0 ± 0.0, DINx1 = 59.7 ± 9.8, DINx2 = 96.3 ± 2.7%). Proportion of heifers that ovulated was smaller for DINx1 compared with other treatments (CLOx1 = 88.8 ± 5.1, CLOx2 = 100.0 ± 0.0, DINx1 = 55.2 ± 9.7, DINx2 = 94.4 ± 3.4%). Ovulatory follicle diameter was larger for DINx1 (18.2 ± 2.7 mm) compared with DINx2 (17.4 ± 2.7 mm), whereas dose did not affect the diameter of the ovulatory follicle in heifers treated with cloprostenol (CLOx1 = 17.6 ± 2.7 vs. CLOx2 = 17.8 ± 2.8 mm). Among heifers that underwent luteolysis, progesterone concentrations from 18 to 36 h after treatment were lesser in heifers treated with cloprostenol compared with those treated with dinoprost. Type of PGF2α did not affect progesterone concentrations past 36 h from treatment; however, heifers treated with 2 PGF2α injections had lesser progesterone concentrations and CL blood flow from 36 to 72 h after treatment compared with heifers that received a single PGF2α injection.

Background and Aim: Previous findings regarding the effects of farrowing induction on the farrowing characteristics of sows are controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effects of farrowing induction on the following characteristics: (1) Proportion of sows that farrowed during working hours, (2) stillbirth rate, (3) number of stillbirths per farrow, (4) dystocia rate per farrow, (5) dystocia rate (the proportion of farrowings that had at least one dystocia event), (6) number of dystocia events per farrow, (6) farrowing duration, (7) birth interval, and (8) birth weight. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight Landrace x Yorkshire sows were randomly allocated into two groups; the control group and the treatment group. In the control group (n = 18), sows farrowed spontaneously. In the treatment group (n = 20), farrowing was induced approximately 2 days earlier than the herd's average length of gestation (7:00 am on day 114) by injecting cloprostenol into the perivulval region. All sows were supervised throughout their farrowing. We recorded the interval between induction and farrowing; total number of births; number of live, stillborn, and mummified piglet births; number of dystocia events; birth interval; farrowing duration; and birth weight. A generalized linear mixed model, a linear mixed-effects model, the Chi-squared test, and Student's t-test were used to compare outcomes between the two groups. Results: Farrowing induction did not influence the percentage of sows that farrowed during working hours (7 am–5 pm), stillbirth rate, birth weight, and number of dystocia events per farrow. Farrowing induction led to an increase in birth interval, dystocia rate, dystocia per farrow (p < 0.05) and in addition to the percentage of sows that farrowed on the day following induction (60% vs. 27.8%; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Farrowing induction using a single dose of cloprostenol 2 days before the expected farrowing date can be performed with care to concentrate farrowing into a short interval. This can enhance the optimization of cross-fostering and the practice of an all-in-all-out strategy in the swine breeding industry.

To determine the effect of hormonal drugs on the pregnancy rates of mares, authors analyzed this indicator in natural (n=303) and stimulated cycles (n=170). They used cloprostenol preparations to shorten the diestral period, and human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] to induce ovulation. Natural cycles are divided into groups, depending on the duration – normal and short (19–24 and 12–18 days, respectively). Stimulated cycles for the following groups: (1) short (8–18 days); (2) normal (19–24 days) with the use of cloprostenol and hCG; (3) normal – with the use of hCG only. Short, both natural and stimulated cycles, are divided into groups – with normal (4–6 days) and short estrus (2–3 days). The analysis of natural and stimulated cycles showed that the level of pregnancy rates in stimulated cycles (73.5%–80.8%) corresponds to this indicator in normal natural cycles (79.6%). In natural short cycles, the pregnancy rate significantly decreases (26.3% ± 7.1%). When analyzing short cycles, it turned out that, both in natural and stimulated cycles, the pregnancy rate depends on the length of the estrus and decreases in cycles with a short estrus. In general, the difference in pregnancy rates was 41.0% (p ≤ 0.001). In short stimulated cycles, with an estrus length of 4–6 days, the pregnancy rate is higher (91.5% ± 4.06%) than in cycles with an estrus of 2–3 days (51.7% ± 9.3%). Thus, the shortening of the estrous period in stimulated cycles has a significant effect on the pregnancy rate.

The present study aimed at examining the association between different risk factors and intrapartum stillbirth in piglets born from cloprostenol-induced farrowing sows. This study enrolled 898 piglets born within 77 Landrace x Yorkshire sows subjected to farrowing induction using cloprostenol at day 114 of gestation. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used to determine important indicators for intrapartum stillbirth at the piglet level. Investigated risk factors included parity, gestation length, litter size, birth order, piglets' gender, birth interval, cumulative farrowing duration, birth weight, crown-rump length, body mass index, ponderal index, and birth weight deviation. The stillbirth rate was 5.3%. Intrapartum stillbirth accounted for 79.2% of all stillbirths. Body conformation traits (birth weight, birth weight deviation, body mass index, and ponderal index), birth order, and cumulative farrowing duration were important indicators for intrapartum stillbirth. Birth order (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.13–1.37), birth interval (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.01–1.02), birth weight deviation (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.69–0.88), and ponderal index (OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.91–0.99) were selected in the model that best explained the variation of stillbirth (marginal R2 = 0.31, conditional R2 = 0.54). Results of this study highlight the importance of body size and shape, birth order, and birth interval in prediction of the intrapartum stillbirth of piglets born from cloprostenol-induced farrowing sows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to increase the conception rates after termination of the voluntary waiting period in dairy cows by administering synthetic analogs of PgF2α. The first dose of PGF2α (Proliz: 500 mcg of Cloprostenol) was given on day 46 on calving. Females who did not show heat after first administration were given a dose of 500 mcg of Cloprostenol after 14 days (60 days after calving). In the 46-65 days from culling, out of 26 cows in the experimental group, 24 cows (92.3%) showed heat and of the 18 cows in the control group, 12 cows showed heat (66.66 %). Within the 46-65 days from calving, out of the 24 cows in the experimental group did not return to heat 15 cows (conceptual rate of 62.5%); of the 12 cows in the control group, 6 cows did not return to heat (50.0% conception rate).

There are a variety of hormonal protocols and products on the market, but it is still unclear how they will work on specific field conditions. The efficacy of using different forms of prostaglandin F2α analogues such as dinoprost and cloprostenol in a FGA-based estrus synchronization protocols were compared in sheep. For this purpose, on the basis of a completely randomized design, 60 ewes (Tsigai breed, Rusty variety; 2–4-years old, mean body score of 2.5 ± 0.5) were divided into two estrus synchronization treatment groups, which included: fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponges for 11 days, with the administration of an intramuscular injection of 5 mg of dinoprost on the 9-day, followed by 300 IU PMSG at the time of sponge withdrawal (FGA-D-PMSG group, n=30), and for the other group, the same synchronization protocol was followed, with the difference that instead of dinoprost, ewes received 75 μg of cloprostenol (FGA-C-PMSG group, n=30). The estrus response rate percentage (%ERR) ranged between 76.66% (FGA-C-PMSG group) and 93.33% (FGA-D-PMSG group). In this study, it is shown that the type of PGF2α (natural or synthetic) can influence the results of a 11-day FGA-PGF2α-PMSG synchronization protocol, in terms of occurrence of estrus behaviour. Additionally, hormonal treatments cost for each protocol was calculated in order to determine the most cost-effective method and whether it can be implemented in small and large-scale sheep farming.

Objectives were to evaluate the effect of 2 analogs of PGF 2α (cloprostenol vs. dinoprost) and 2 doses (1 injection vs. 2 injections) on luteolysis, follicle diameter, hormonal concentrations, and time to ovulation in dairy heifers. Holstein heifers were fitted with automated estrus detection devices and had their estrous cycle synchronized using PGF 2α and an intravaginal insert containing progesterone. Heifers detected in estrus were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: cloprostenol on d 7 after estrus (CLOx1; n = 45), cloprostenol on d 7 and 8 after estrus (CLOx2; n = 41), dinoprost on d 7 after estrus (DINx1; n = 43), or dinoprost on d 7 and 8 after estrus (DINx2; n = 44). Treatment with the first injection of PGF 2α was defined as experiment d 0. Area and blood flow of corpus luteum (CL) and diameter of follicles >5 mm were recorded every 12 h from d 0 to estrus and every 6 h thereafter until ovulation. Blood was sampled every 6 h from d 0 until ovulation. Heifers treated with cloprostenol had shorter interval to luteolysis (± SEM; CLOx1 = 23.5 ± 2.2, CLOx2 = 22.9 ± 2.2, DINx1 = 32.6 ± 2.7, DINx2 = 26.4 ± 2.1 h); however, time to ovulation was not affected by treatment. A smaller proportion of heifers treated with a single injection of PGF 2α underwent luteolysis compared with heifers treated with 2 injections (CLOx1 = 84.6 ± 6.2, CLOx2 = 100.0 ± 0.0, DINx1 = 59.7 ± 9.8, DINx2 = 96.3 ± 2.7%). Proportion of heifers that ovulated was smaller for DINx1 compared with other treatments (CLOx1 = 88.8 ± 5.1, CLOx2 = 100.0 ± 0.0, DINx1 = 55.2 ± 9.7, DINx2 = 94.4 ± 3.4%). Ovulatory follicle diameter was larger for DINx1 (18.2 ± 2.7 mm) compared with DINx2 (17.4 ± 2.7 mm), whereas dose did not affect the diameter of the ovulatory follicle in heifers treated with cloprostenol (CLOx1 = 17.6 ± 2.7 vs. CLOx2 = 17.8 ± 2.8 mm). Among heifers that underwent luteolysis, progesterone concentrations from 18 to 36 h after treatment were lesser in heifers treated with cloprostenol compared with those treated with dinoprost. Type of PGF 2α did not affect progesterone concentrations past 36 h from treatment; however, heifers treated with 2 PGF 2α injections had lesser progesterone concentrations and CL blood flow from 36 to 72 h after treatment compared with heifers that received a single PGF 2α injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effect of different therapeutic protocols on macro-mineral profile and reproductive performance of endometritic buffaloes. Endometritic buffaloes were assigned in five treatment and one control groups viz. uterine lavage (UL), Levamisole (LEV), PGF2α (PG), Uterine lavage+Levamisole (UL+LEV), Uterine lavage+PGF2α (UL+PG) and control (no therapy) consisting of six buffaloes in each group. The Subclinical endometritic buffaloes were diagnosed using White side test. The screened buffaloes were subjected to different treatment regimen as mentioned earlier. It was observed that the post-treatment calcium and phosphorus level was significantly (P<0.05) higher in all treatment groups as compared to their corresponding pre-treatment values, whereas no significant (P>0.05) change was recorded in control group. The clinical cure rate of endometritis was 33.33, 50.00, 66.67, 66.67, 83.33 and 83.33% in untreated control, UL, LEV, PG, UL+LEV and UL+PG, respectively. The corresponding conception rates were 16.67, 33.33, 50.00, 50.00, 66.67 and 66.67% in untreated control, UL, LEV, PG, UL+LEV and UL+PG, respectively. The results inferred that, uterine lavage along with levamisole or PGF2α can be used effectively to manage endometritic buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, the luteolytic dose of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and its analogs, used to synchronize estrus for fixed-time insemination in dairy cattle, have remained unchanged. Given the beneficial effects of PGF2α on a young corpus luteum and on multiple ovulations in a fixed-time insemination protocol, and its therapeutic abortive effects on multiple ovulations in pregnant cows, we propose the use of a double PGF2α dose or two PGF2α treatments 24 hours apart. Ultrasonography procedures serve to identify luteal structures and may therefore help to determine the best PGF2α dose to improve the fertility of high-producing dairy cows.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different hormonal interventions in the treatment of cystic ovarian follicles (COF) based on different scenarios, including the size of the cyst and the presence of other follicles on the ovaries of dairy cows. A total of 199 Holstein cows with COF in the first 100 days postpartum were enrolled in the study. These cows were randomly assigned to the four following groups: 1) GnRH (G) group: intramuscular (IM) injections of 100 µg gonadorelin acetate on day 0 and 150 µg d-cloprostenol 7-12 days later, 2) double GnRH (DG) group: two IM injections of 100 µg gonadorelin acetate at 6 h intervals on day 0 and d-cloprostenol 7-12 days later, 3) intravaginal progesterone device (IPD) group: insertion of PRID Delta for 7-12 days and injection of d-cloprostenol on the withdrawal of PRID Delta, and 4) control group: IM injection of 2 mL sterile saline on day 0 and 7-12 days later. The cure rate of COF significantly improved in the G and DG groups, in comparison with the IPD and control groups. ! ere was no significant difference between the cows in the G and DG groups. In the control group, animals with ovarian cysts smaller than 2.5 cm had a significantly greater self-cure rate, compared to the other cows. In conclusion, this field study demonstrated a good clinical cure in the groups of cows treated by GnRH. However, no improvement was observed in the reproductive performance of these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se comparó el dinoprost trometamina vs. cloprostenol con respecto a respuesta al estro, tasa de fertilidad y costos. El protocolo 1 (P1) consistió en la aplicación de CIDR-B por siete días, aplicando 1.0 mg de cipionato de estradiol al día 0, al T1 se le aplicó 0.30 mg de dinoprost trometamina al retiro del CIDR-B y al T2: 0.52 mg de cloprostenol. El protocolo 2 (P2) consistió en la aplicación de dos inyecciones de PGF2α con intervalo de 11 d (T1: 0.30 mg de dinoprost trometamina y T2: 0.52 mg de cloprostenol). La detección de estros en P1 se realizó el día nueve; en P2, fue posterior a la inyección. La inseminación artificial fue realizada 12 a 18 h después del inicio de estro en ambos protocolos. Para evaluar el porcentaje de estros se utilizó la prueba de Chi-cuadrada. El porcentaje de preñez en P1 se evaluó por la prueba exacta de Fisher y en P2 se empleó un modelo para datos categóricos. El porcentaje de estros para P1 fue100%enambosgruposyparaP292(T1)y88%(T2).Los porcentajes de preñez para P1 16.67 (T1) y 38.46 % (T2); P2 52 (T1) y 44 % (T2). La T1 y T2 se comportaron de manera similar, concluyéndose que T2 es más recomendable, ya que es 25 % más económico. Abstract Dinoprost tromethamine and cloprostenol were compared regarding estrus percentage, rate of pregnancy and costs. Protocol 1 (P1) consisted in the application of CIDR-B by 7 days with 1.0 mg of estradiol cypionate at day 0. T1 was treated with 0.30 mg of dinoprost tromethamine (PGF2a) when CIDR-B was withdrawn and T2 just 0.52 mg of cloroprostenol. Protocol 2 (P2) consisted in the application of two injections of PGF2α within 11 days interval (T1: 0.30 mg of dinoprost tromethamine and T2: 0.52 mg of cloprostenol. Estrus detection in P1 was evaluated at day 9, while for P2 was evaluated after injection. Artificial insemination was carried out 12 to 18 h after estrus onset for both protocols. Estrus percentage was evaluated by a Chi Square Test, rate of pregnancy in P1 was analyzed by a Fisher Exact Test while P2 by a Categorical Data Model Estrus percentage was 100 % for both groups of P1 and for P2 was 92 % (T1) and 88 % (T2); rate of pregnancy was for P1 16.67 (T1) and 38.46 % (T2). For P2,was 52 % (T1) and 44 % (T2). Similar response was observed for T1 and T2. In conclusion, T2 is more recommendable because is 25 % cheaper. Keywords: Dinoprost trometamina, cloprostenol, estrus, fertility, insemination

The swine industry has evolved significantly in the recent decades, but this has come at considerable expense to piglet survival. Breeding sows for greater prolificacy has been accompanied by a greater proportion of piglets being born underweight, of lower vigor, and higher susceptibility to early mortality. Inducing sows to farrow during working hours has the potential to increase piglet survivability, but non-therapeutic injectable products are often discouraged on farms. We aimed to design and develop a novel vaginal drug delivery system (NVDDS) that could reliably trigger luteolysis and induce parturition. To achieve this, two vaginal tablets containing the luteolytic agent cloprostenol were formulated to be inserted together: one would release constituents immediately on insertion (immediate release; IR) and the other would release cloprostenol in a controlled manner (controlled release; CR). The two formulations (IR and CR) were evaluated for drug release, swelling and bio-adhesion in conditions simulating the sow vaginal environment. The IR tablet released the drug completely for 5 min whereas the CR tablet took 5 h to release 50% of the drug. Furthermore, the release kinetics were evaluated by fitting the dissolution profiles into different mathematical models. Both IR and CR tablets were best fitted by the Makoid–Banakar model which assumes release by summation of different mechanisms. The performance of the optimized formulations was studied in vivo with 161 Large White x Landrace sows of varying parity (0–5). The sows were assigned to five groups. Group 1 (SI) received a single vulval injection of cloprostenol at 0700 h (n = 32), group 2 (SDI) received the same dose split in two parts, at 0700h and 1300h (n = 33). Group 3 (IRT) animals were administered an IR tablet at 0700h (n = 32), while group 4 (IRCRT) received both IR and CR tablets at 0700 h (n = 33). Group 5 was untreated and served as a control (n = 32). The interval to farrowing was longer (p < 0.001) for controls than for treated sows, but there were no differences among cloprostenol treatments for timing of farrowing. The finding confirms the efficacy of the NVDDS for induction of farrowing in sows.

Objectives: Termination rates for the highly recommended aglepristone (AGL) treatment are low in late-term pregnancy in queens. We studied the effects of an AGL and cloprostenol (CLO) combination in the termination of late-term pregnancy. Methods: Pregnant queens were assigned to two groups. Queens in the AGL group (n = 10) received AGL 10 mg/kg, twice, 24 h apart. Queens in the AGL-CLO group (n = 9) were additionally injected with a single dose of CLO (5 μg/kg) 24 h after the second dose of AGL. Progesterone, 17beta(β)-oestradiol, cortisol, oxytocin and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2α) metabolite were measured in sera obtained at days 0, 1 and 2, and on the day of abortion. Results: Average gestational age in both groups was similar (AGL 38.61 ± 0.91 days vs AGL-CLO 39.39 ± 1.35 days; P >0.05). Termination rates were 80% and 100% in the AGL and AGL-CLO groups, respectively (P <0.05). Fetal expulsion time was significantly longer (P <0.001) in the AGL group (96.9 ± 6 h) compared with the AGL-CLO group (69.8 ± 3.3 h). Duration of abortion was 19.8 ± 2.6 h and 12.6 ± 1.4 h in the AGL and AGL-CLO groups, respectively (P <0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated. Significantly (P <0.05) lower serum progesterone concentrations were observed in both groups at the day of abortion and concentrations in the AGL-CLO group (4.19 ± 0.80 ng/ml) were lower than in the AGL group (9.89 ± 2.21 ng/ml; P <0.05). Conclusions and relevance: AGL and CLO combination increases pregnancy termination rate in late-term pregnant queens. In addition, CLO contributes to a decrease in luteal function in AGL-treated late-term pregnant queens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was envisaged to evaluate therapeutic effect of PGF2α analogue on the incidence of post-partum complications, uterine involution and fertility in crossbred cows. A total of 21 apparently healthy cows,immediately after normal calving were randomly allotted to two groups. Animals in group I were administered with 500 μg of cloprostenol sodium (synthetic PGF2α) intramuscularly within two hours of calving, whereas those in group II were left untreated. Incidence of post-partum complications, number of days required for complete uterine involution and fertility indices were recorded in all the animals. Incidence of post-partum complications was higher in group II than group I. Number of days taken for complete uterine involution, as assessed by rectal examination was significantly (p0.05) between groups (26.11 ± 2.87 and 53.89 ± 2.91 vs 32.22 ± 1.21 and 55.33 ± 4.45 days, respectively in group I and II, respectively). While, calving to conception interval did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between groups (69.14 ± 9.02 vs 74.40 ± 9.25 days), first AI and overall conception rate was higher in group I (44.44 and 77.78 per cent, respectively) than group II (11.11 and 55.56 per cent, respectively).

Twenty-five Thoroughbred jumper geldings suffered back soreness with poor performance, and 5 control horses were assessed by archived computer data, clinical examination, and laboratory analyses of complete blood picture, serum enzymes, and cortisol level, before and after cloprostenol-pharmacopuncture. The 25 diseased horses before therapy showed significant increases in aspartate aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase with clinical pains scored mild in 15 horses, moderate in 9 horses, and severe in one horse, without changes in the hormonal and hematological data. After therapy, they responded by an increase of heart rate (57.8 ± 4.3 bpm), body temperature (38.5 ± 0.7°C), respiration rate (28.3 ± 2.1 bpm), and capillary refilling time (CRT) (1.0 ± 0.0). On the 2nd day, a significant decrease in the mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase (P = 0.001) was detected, while on the 4th day, they mimed the level of the 5 controls, and on the 6th day, they showed a significant decrease (P = 0.002). The serum cortisol level showed a significant increase on the 6th day of treatment (P = 0.013). The blood picture showed significant increases in red blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, platelets, white blood cells, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, lymphocytes, plateletcrit, and large platelet concentration ratio (P < 0.05) and nonsignificant changes in hematocrit, granulocytes, and midocytes. The improved blood parameters, enzymes, hormones, and performance progress after cloprostenol-pharmacopuncture proved its effectiveness in treating back soreness in athletic horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra complex (CEH/P) is a challenge in canine reproduction. Present study aimed to assess fertility after medical treatment. One-hundredseventy- four bitches affected by CEH/P received aglepristone on days 1, 2, 8, then every 7 days until blood progesterone < 1.2 ng/mL; cloprostenol was administered on days 3 to 5. Records were grouped according to bodyweight (BW): small (< 10 kg, n = 33), medium (10 = BW < 25 kg, n = 44), large (25 = BW < 40 kg, n = 52), and giant bitches (BW = 40 kg, n = 45). Age; success rate; aglepristone treatments number; relapse, pregnancy rates; diagnosisrelapse, -first, -last litter intervals; litters number after treatment, and LS were analyzed by ANOVA. Overall age was 5.14 ± 1.75 years, without difference among groups. Treatment was 100% successful, without difference in treatments number (4.75 ± 1.18), relapse (15/174, 8.62%) and pregnancy (129/140 litters, 92.14%) rates, intervals diagnosis-relapse (409.63 ± 254.9 days) or -last litter (418.62 ± 129.03 days). The interval diagnosis-first litter was significantly shorter (163.52 ± 51.47 days) and longer (225.17 ± 90.97 days) in small and giant bitches, respectively. Overall, 1.47 ± 0.65 litters were born after treatment. Expected LS was achieved in each group, as shown by ΔLS (actual-expected LS by breed, overall -0.40 ± 1.62) without differences among groups. Concluding, CEH/P affects younger dogs than previously described. Relapses were rarer than previously reported. Medical treatment with aglepristone+cloprostenol is effective and safe, preserving subsequent fertility, as demonstrated by negligible changes in LS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted on eighteen post-partum subestrus (>45 days post-partum) Surti buffaloes, divided into three equal groups to evaluate fertility response and serum metabolic and minerals profile following treatment with Norgestomet ear implant alone and in combination with Cloprostenol. The buffaloes in Group-I and Group-ll were implanted with Norgestomet ear implant for nine days alongwith injection of Estradiol valerate on the day of implant insertion. In Groupll, additionally 500 pg Cloprostenol (PGF2ct) was given i/m on S*1 day. The buffaloes in Group-Ill served as untreated sub-estrus controls and were given 5 ml normal saline as placebo treatment on 0 and 8, h day. The estrus was induced in all buffaloes in Group-1 and II with mean estrus induction intervals of 2.17 ± 0.06 and 2.03 ± 0.05 days, respectively. These intervals were significantly (p<0.01) shorter as compared to control Group-Ill (8.33 ± 2.01 days). The conception rate of induced estrus was highest (83.33%) in Group-ll followed by Group-I (66.67%) and Group-Ill (50.0%). The service periods (days) of anestrus buffaloes under Group-I (75.75 ± 7.26) and II (73.00 ± 4.36) were significantly (p<0.01) shorter than control group (94.33 ± 4.06). The mean serum total protein levels differed significantly (p<0.05) within groups but not differed (p>0.05) between treatment and control groups at different time intervals. The mean serum total cholesterol levels at 10, h day and estrus day were found significantly lower (p<0.05) in control group as compared to treatment groups. The overall mean serum Cobalt, Zinc, Iron and Manganese values did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between different time intervals among any of the groups. Norgestomet ear implant alone and in combination with Cloprostenol can be successfully used to induce fertile estrus in post-partum subestrus Surti buffaloes. No significant differences were observed in serum micro-minerals (Cu, Co, Zn, Fe, and Mn) constituents between treated and control groups at different time intervals might be due to organized farm maintained on optimum nutritional supplementation and healthcare strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cloprostenol in inducing estrus in cycling Rusa timorensis hinds by assessing circulating progesterone (P4) concentration, occurence of estrus and pregnancy rate. Estrus was synchronized in eight cycling hinds with 500 ?g cloprostenol given intramuscularly at 10 days apart. Eight other R. timorensis hinds were not-synchronized and served as control. Blood samples, collected every three to four days for 29 days from 24 hours prior to the first cloprostenol injection, were analyzed for plasma progesterone concentration. Estrus was recorded based on observation of estrus signs during the period of blood sampling and all hinds were subjected to transrectal ultrasonography to assess pregnancy status. On the basis of changes in plasma progesterone concentration, cloprostenol induced estrus in only 63% of the treated hinds. The other three treated hinds showed progesterone values (0.8 ng/mL) which appeared to be too low to indicate presence of corpus luteum for the drug to act on. Spontaneous estrus occurred in 50% of the untreated hinds. Five of the 8 treated hinds and four control hinds displayed standing estrus. Pregnancy rate to cloprostenol induced estrus following natural mating was good with 50% of the treated hinds conceived. In the present study, estrus synchronization had been successfully achieved using prostaglandin analogue.

Aim: Bovine ovarian cysts are a common cause of economic loss in modern dairy herds. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the reproductive responses to three protocols using hCG, GnRH and cloprostenol when the definite diagnosis of the type of ovarian cyst is/is not possible in dairy cows. Materials and Methods: A total of 144 lactating dairy cows with ovarian cysts were divided into three groups. At diagnosis (Day 0), cows in Group 1 (the conventional method, n=47) were injected with 0.02 mg of a GnRH analogue i.m. (Buserelin); cows in Group 2 (n=47) were intramuscularly treated with 0.02 mg Buserelin plus 500 μg cloprostenol; and cows in Group 3 (n=50) were intramuscularly treated with 1500 IU hCG plus 500 μg cloprostenol. All cows received 500 μg cloprostenol intramuscularly on Day 10. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in the recovery time, interval to conception, conception rate at first AI, and pregnancy rates by Days 70 and 100 after treatment among the three groups. Conclusions: Simultaneous treatment of ovarian cysts with hCG or GnRH and cloprostenol appeared to have no advantage over the conventional method, GnRH alone, in dairy cows. Furthermore, hCG and GnRH have an equal therapeutic effect in cows with ovarian cysts.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and cloprostenol (CLO) administration on oestrus synchronisation, uterine development as well as serum LH and FSH concentrations in mice. One hundred and five KM mice were assigned into eCG-1, eCG-2, eCG-3, CLO-1, CLO-2, CLO-3 and control groups (CG, n = 15). The eCG-1, eCG-2 and eCG-3 groups were intramuscularly injected with 10, 20 and 40 IU eCG. CLO-1, CLO-2 and CLO-3 were intramuscularly injected with 10, 15 and 20 μg cloprostenol acetate. The results showed that 93.33% and 66.67% of synchronised mice displayed oestrus within 18.68-37.59 h. Oestrus numbers, oestrus onset time (EOT) and oestrus rate in CLO and eCG groups were greater than in CG (P < 0.05). EOT in CLO and eCG groups were 19.88 ± 2.91 h and 34.84 ± 5.05 h. Uterine weights of treatment groups were larger than CG. Uterine weights of the eCG group were higher than those in the CLO group. Uterine horn longitudial diameters (ULD) in treatment groups were larger than CG during the experiment. ULD in eCG-2 and eCG-3 were significantly greater when compared to CG (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). On days 14 and 21, uterine horn transverse diameters (UTD) in CLO-1, eCG-1, eCG-2 and eCG-3 subgroups were significantly larger than that of CG (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Serum LH concentrations in eCG and CLO increased. Increments in eCG and CLO groups were greater than that of CG. FSH concentrations in eCG mice were higher than those in CLO and CG mice (P < 0.05) on day 21. Thus, eCG and cloprostenol treatments in mice can improve uterine development and promote the secretion of LH and FSH.

The case describes a four-year-old Weimaraner bitch with fetal death resulting in the resorption of two gestation sacks and mummification of a fetus on day 30 of gestation. An ultrasound diagnostic on the 22nd day post-ovulation showed three normal gestation sacks. An ultrasound check-up 3 days later showed only one gestation sack with no heartbeat observed, while the diameter of the gestation sack did not correspond to the gestation period. The uterine wall was intact and the ovaries had corpus luteum bilaterally. The clinical status of the patient was physiological. On the 32nd day post-ovulation, an ultrasound showed a big solid cyst on the left ovary. At the bifurcation of the uterus, there was a solid mass (2.56 cm x 3.18 cm) with a lack of fetal fluid. The mass corresponded to mummified fetus. The progesterone level on day 34 of gestation was 31.94 ng/mL. The bitch was negative for Canine herpes virus, Canine bocavirus and Brucella canis. The induction of the abortion started on day 34 post-ovulation with a combination of antiprogestine (Alizine® and synthetic prostaglandins, (Estrumate®) given subcutaneously and intravaginally administered (Cytotec®). There were certain side effects during therapy, such as tachypnea, polydipsia, nesting and fever. During therapy, the uterine wall, embryo mass, ovaries and eventual occurrence of fluid in the lumen of the uterus were monitored daily. On the 57th day post-ovulation, a mucosal dark discharge occurred. Ultrasound findings showed no presence of fetal mass persistence in the uterus. The bitch showed signs of heat three and half months after the abortion. In the next gestation, it was confirmed by ultrasound that a minimum of five vital fetuses were developing normally. It can be concluded that the described hormonal protocol is the option of choice for breeding bitches in order to avoid unnecessary and undesirable surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective in this study the effect of parity and average milk production on the conception rate after resynchronization with G6G protocol or Ovsynch protocol. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 100) divided into two groups (Ovsynch and G6G) cows in this group1 (n = 50) were received the following treatment sequence, 12 μg Buserelin on day zero, 500 μg IM of Cloprostenol on day seven, 12 μg Buserelin IM on day nine and received timed artificial insemination (TAI) 16 hours later. Group II (G6G): were received 500 μg IM Cloprostenol on day zero, 12 μg Buserelin on day two and six days later these cows received the Ovsynch as previously explained in the first group. Conception rate was (40 vs. 30 %) for G6G and Ovsynch protocol respectively primiparous cows, conception rate to G6G program was 46.15%, compared to 28.57% in cows synchronized with Ovsynch program. In Multiparous cows, the similar trend was observed but the difference was smaller (conception rate 37.8 vs. 30.55% in cows synchronized with G6G and with Ovsynch, respectively). In high producers, conception rate was numerically higher in the Ovsynch group (40%) compared to the G6G group (36%). While, in low producers, conception rate to G6G protocol (48%) tended (P = 0.07) to be higher than that to Ovsynch protocol (20%) in conclusion Administration of PGF2α 8 d before initiation of Ovsynch increase the conception rate compared with the standard Ovsynch protocol in primiparous cows than in multiparous cows and in low producers than high producer cows [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to increase the conception rates after termination of the voluntary waiting period in dairy cows by administering synthetic analogs of PgF2α. The first dose of PGF2α (Proliz: 500 mcg of Cloprostenol) was given on day 46 on calving. Females who did not show heat after first administration were given a dose of 500 mcg of Cloprostenol after 14 days (60 days after calving). In the 46-65 days from culling, out of 26 cows in the experimental group, 24 cows (92.3%) showed heat and of the 18 cows in the control group, 12 cows showed heat (66.66 %). Within the 46-65 days from calving, out of the 24 cows in the experimental group did not return to heat 15 cows (conceptual rate of 62.5%); of the 12 cows in the control group, 6 cows did not return to heat (50.0% conception rate). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to develop a particular sorbent for the selective extraction of the luteolytic drug cloprostenol from milk samples. Cloprostenol's luteolytic activity has been proved in animals, whereas the production of prostaglandins is discussed extensively in the literature, while extraction of cloprostenol is rarely discussed. The major objective was to get sufficient molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for selective extraction and detection of cloprostenol. After a series of experiment, MIPs and their analogues NIPs, were synthesized. In these experiments, radical polymerization with non-covalent interactions has been used to synthesize MIPs and NIPs. Different parameters to determine the optimization conditions such as solvent volume, cross-linker, and template ratio were studied in various sets to get better possible characteristics of MIPs. The HPLC was used to evaluate the retention capacity which ranges from 68.5% to 94.1%. The mechanism of adsorption was studied by the isothermal assay and kinetic studies. The kinetic studies exhibited a high retention capacity within 20 min of MIPs contact. The percentage of polymer yield ranged from 53.5% to 92.3%. HPLC coupled with a UV detector showed the limit of detection and limit of quantification of 30.5 ng/mL and 86.7 ng/mL, respectively, for the determination of analytes from milk samples. The recovery of cloprostenol for all spiked samples of milk was higher than 91.54%. Furthermore, the studies showed that MIPs are specific in the adsorption of cloprostenol compared to its other structural analogues. The outcomes also showed the significance of cross-linker concentration and the amount of solvent during the process of polymerization. These parameters greatly affect the preorganization of complementary functional groups, meanwhile, it creates specific cavities for the targeted drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the effect of intramuscular injection of two different commercial products of cloprostenol (Preloban® or Croniprest®) on luteal regression of Holstein heifers. On a random day of the estrous cycle, 36 heifers were synchronized with an estradiol-progestin-PG-estradiol treatment. Twelve days after withdrawal of progestin, heifers were randomly divided into 3 groups of 12 animals. Groups 1 and 2 received the equivalent of 150 µg of d-cloprostenol of Croniben® or Preloban® products, while group 3 received 2 ml of saline. Estrus was detected with the aid of the dispositive Estrotec® on the following five days, and heifers that expressed estrus were inseminated. Blood samples were collected daily during the periods of 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the injection of d-cloprostenol for measurement of plasma progesterone by radioimmunoassay. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography 40 days after insemination. The interval between the manifestation of estrus and the Croniben® or Preloban® injection was 68.4 ± 4.4 and 63.3 ± 4.6 hours, respectively (P>0.05). The distribution of estrus occurred in the period of 36 to 108 hours. With the exception of two heifers with incomplete luteolysis, all animals treated with d-cloprostenol showed complete luteolysis. The conception rate was 50.0% and 54.5% for Preloban® and Croniben® treatments, respectively (P > 0.05). We conclude that Preloban® and Croniben® products have similar effectiveness to induce luteolysis and and to synchronize the estrus of Holstein heifers. Thus, producer may choose any one of them without risk of compromising reproductive performance.

Farrowing induction is a common practice among swine producers to manage timing of farrowing and the labor associated with farrowing. In this experiment, the effect of induction of labor using cloprostenol on Day 114 of gestation (n = 88) was compared to our standard farrowing protocol at USMARC (natural farrowing with induction using cloprostenol on Day 116 if needed, n = 82) in gilts and sows up to fourth parity. In a subset of dams (n = 10 each treatment), colostrum was collected within 30 min of birth of the first piglet, and at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. Colostrum samples were measured for immunoglobulin G (IgG) using the immunoglobulin immunocrit and porcine IgG specific ELISA, and for total protein. Blood samples were collected from each live piglet on d 1 of age and measured using the immunocrit assay, and average immunocrit was calculated for each litter. Total piglets born and born alive, birth and weaning weights, and the stillbirth rate and preweaning mortality rate were also recorded for each litter. Results indicated that induction of farrowing by cloprostenol treatment on d 114 reduced average gestation length by 0.5 to 1 d depending on parity (P < 0.05), and reduced overall colostrum immunocrit, IgG and total protein (P < 0.05). Colostrum immunocrits and IgG concentrations were well correlated (R = 0.89; P < 0.01) but IgG was curvilinearly related to total protein. Litter average immunocrits were similar in gilts between treatments, but were reduced in later parity sows induced to farrow using cloprostenol on d 114 of gestation. Total born, born alive, birth and weaning weights, and stillbirth and preweaning mortality rates were unaffected by treatments. In conclusion, induction of farrowing using cloprostenol injection on d 114 reduced colostrum IgG concentrations in dams, but this was reflected in a reduction in litter average immunocrit only in later parity sows. This reduction in litter average immunocrit was not sufficient to influence preweaning mortality, but other effects are possible given the reported influence of colostrum on growth and reproductive traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]