The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of administration of
aglepristone in mid-proestrus on
progesterone concentration, LH release, and occurrence of ovulation in the bitch. Experimental bitches (n = 7) were treated on days 4 and 5 of proestrus with
aglepristone at the dose of 10 mg/kg
body weight s.c. (i.e., the two treatments were 24 h apart). Control animals (n = 7) received s.c.
injections of saline. For
progesterone determination, blood was collected daily until the first day of cytological diestrus. For LH determination, blood was collected daily and in the periovulatory phase every 8 h. The
progesterone concentration showed a similar pattern in both groups. The LH peak value in bitches treated with
aglepristone was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in control bitches (4.83 ± 1.20 vs. 13.66 ± 1.21 ng/mL). The area under the curve (AUC) for LH was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in treated than in control animals (6.85 ± 1.21 ng/mL/d vs. 12.25 ± 1.35 ng/mL/d). The ovulation occurred in all animals in both groups. The study showed that administration of
aglepristone in the mid-proestrus significantly reduced the preovulatory LH surge, but it had no effect on
progesterone concentration and the occurrence of ovulation.