PubMed2005
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of KUR-1246 as a tocolytic agent, we examined the effects of its long term infusion on respiratory and cardiovascular systems and general metabolism in pregnant sheep and their fetuses. DESIGN: Animal experiment with chronically instrumented ewes and their fetuses. SETTING: Center for animal experiments, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Japan. SAMPLE: Eight Suffolk ewes at 117 to 120 days of gestation. METHODS: At 120-124 days of gestation, ewes (n= 4) were infused intravenously for 24 hours with KUR-1246 at 0.03 microg/kg/minute, a dose that completely inhibits oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in pregnant sheep. The controls received saline instead (n= 4). Statistical comparisons were carried out by repeated-measures ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and fetal values of heart rate, blood pressure, plasma electrolytes, glucose, insulin and non-esterified fatty acid levels, and blood gases and lactate level. RESULTS: The maternal plasma levels of KUR-1246 increased and reached a plateau at 15 hours or later from the start of the infusion, whereas the fetal levels of it were below the lower limit of quantification (0.1 ng/mL) throughout the experiment. Significant differences over time between the ewes that had received with KUR-1246 and the controls were found for the following parameters: maternal heart rate, blood lactate, plasma glucose, and plasma insulin levels, and fetal plasma glucose and plasma insulin levels (P < 0.05). In the KUR-1246 treated ewes, significant changes from the pre-infusion value were detected in maternal blood lactate and fetal plasma glucose levels within 6 hours from the start of the infusion (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other parameters in either ewes or fetuses. CONCLUSION: The physiologic changes induced by a 24-hour infusion of KUR-1246 were transient and considered to be within the compensatory capacity in both pregnant ewes and their fetuses, suggesting that KUR-1246 is a potentially safe tocolytic agent for use by long term infusion.