Antiabortifacient action of dibenzyloxyindanpropionic acid in mice

DIPA [5,6-bis(dibenzyloxy)-1-oxo-2-propyl-2-indanpropionic acid] was evaluated for its antiabortifacient action in mice. PGF_2α administered intramuscularly twice daily at 525 μg/kg per dose starting on day-17 of gestation resulted in premature delivery (prior to day-19 of gestation) in 55% of the animals. This constituted an ED₅₀ abortifacient dosage schedule of PGF_2α. Intramuscular administration of DIPA at a dose of 50 mg/kg twice daily, starting on day-15 of gestation, protected the mice against the premature delivery induced by the ED₅₀ dosage schedule of PGF_2α in that only 20% of the animals delivered prematurely. In saline-treated controls, none of the animals delivered prior to day-19 of gestation. Thus, DIPA appears to be an effective antiabortifacient agent.