Effect of Copper Intrauterine Devices on the Chemical Composition of Rabbit Oviduct Fluid

Abstract

Oviduct fluid, collected from 65 mature, female rabbits in estrus and in which a modified Cu intrauterine device (IUD) was introduced by laparotomy in one of the uterine horns, was examined for chemical composition. No differences were noted for Na, K, Ca, Cl and bicarbonate between the 2 sides. The Cu content was significantly higher in the IUD side (12.80 .+-. 3.01 .mu.g/100 ml), as compared to the control side 9.0 .+-. 1.0 .mu.g/100 ml), the toxicity of which, to blastocyst development, was reported in some cases. Total protein in the experimental side was significantly higher (258.52 .+-. 36.22 mg/100 ml) than in the control side (156.67 .+-. 26.45 mg/100 ml). The same was found for sialic acid, 5.30 .+-. 0.62 .mu.g/ml, compared to 3.66 .+-. 0.27 .mu.g/ml; a part of the increased protein can be ascribed to glycoprotein. Oviduct fluid glucose was lower in the Cu IUD side than in the control side (10.5 .+-. 0.2 vs. 17.7 .+-. 0.3 mg/100 ml). These findings may be explained on the basis of an inflammatory process, taking place in the side of the Cu IUD which should be used with caution in adolescent, and nulligravidae women.