Abstract
Summary
When MER-25 is administered orally to female rats on day of mating and continued throughout the normal period of oviducal passage of ova, implantation does not occur. Restricting treatment period to only one day post-coitus can also be effective in preventing nidation. Treated females enter a post-copulatory period of pseudo-pregnancy, then resume normal estrous cycles. The antifertility effects of MER-25 appear to be exerted prior to exit of ova from the oviducts. The compound does not act by preventing decidua development, nor by interfering with post-copulatory maintenance of luteal body function. Histologic evidence indicates that ova of females treated with MER-25 undergo degeneration after extrusion of 2nd polar body.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.