A combined oral contraceptive affects mucosal SHIV susceptibility factors in a pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) model

作者：Ostergaard Sharon Dietz; Butler Katherine; Ritter Jana M; Johnson Ryan; Sanders Jeanine; Powell Nathaniel; Lathrop George; Zaki Sherif R; McNicholl Janet M; Kersh Ellen N^*

来源：Journal of Medical Primatology, 2015, 44(2): 97-107.

DOI：10.1111/jmp.12157

• contraception
• non-human primate (NHP)
• SHIV
• susceptibility
• transmission risk

BackgroundInjectable hormonal contraception may increase women's risk of HIV acquisition and can affect biological risk factors in animal models of HIV. We established, for the first time, a model to investigate whether combined oral contraceptives (COC) alter SHIV susceptibility in macaques.
MethodsSeven pigtail macaques were administered a monophasic levonorgestrel (LNG)/ethinyl estradiol (EE) COC at 33% or 66% of the human dose for 60days. Menstrual cycling, vaginal epithelial thickness, and other SHIV susceptibility factors were monitored for a mean of 18weeks.
ResultsMean vaginal epithelial thicknesses were 290.8m at baseline and 186.2m during COC (P=0.0141, Mann-Whitney U-test). Vaginal pH decreased from 8.5 during treatment to 6.5 post-treatment (0.0176 two-tailed t-test). Measured microflora was unchanged.
ConclusionsCOC caused thinning of the vaginal epithelium and vaginal pH changes, which may increase SHIV susceptibility. 0.033mg LNG+.0066mg EE appeared effective in suppressing ovulation.

• 出版日期2015-4