Effect of cyproterone acetate,d-norgestrel and progesterone on the canine mammary gland

Summary The effects of short-term (8 weeks) treatment with different doses of cyproterone acetate (CPA), d-norgestrel (d-N) and progesterone (PRO) on the mammary gland were studied in cycle-synchronized beagle bitches (first anoestrus). Mammary glands from non-treated primiparous beagle bitches in the 6th and 9th weeks of pregnancy were also included. The results were evaluated using the whole-mount technique, histologic, histochemical and biochemical methods. CPA, d-N and PRO were shown to cause dose-dependent mammary growth accompanied by an increase in the mammary weight, DNA content and activity of several histochemically demonstrable dehydrogenases. These changes resembled in some aspects mammary development observed in the last third of pregnancy. A single human oral contraceptive dose (HCD) of CPA as well as a dose as low as 1.0mg/kg/day subcutaneously of PRO was capable of stimulating complete mammary development. A comparable effect was first observed as a result of treatment with as much as 100 times the HCD of d-N. However, d-N and CPA were shown to be more effective than PRO in stimulating ductal proliferative activity. These structural and biochemical responses indicate that quantitative and/or qualitative differences may exist between PRO, the synthetic progesterone derivative CPA and the synthetic nortestosterone progestagen d-N with regard to their growth-promoting effect on the canine mammary gland. This may be explained by possible differences in their potency and range of biological activity, pharmacodynamics and effects on pituitary hormone secretion.The authors are grateful to Dr. Christel Schöbel and Mrs. P. Kurth for carrying out the experimental work on animals, to Dr. Y. Nishino and Mr. M. Leidecker for biochemical determination of DNA, to Dr. J. Kaufmann for statistical analysis, to Miss E. Fallenbacher, Mrs. B. Schilk, Mrs. G. Soulioti and Miss. U. Tüshaus for their excellent technical assistance, and to Dr. P. Günzel for his advice and encouragement