Abstract
MAININI has described (Semana Medica, 64, 337, March 1947) a pregnancy test in which, following injection of pregnancy urine into the male toad (Bufo arenarum Hensel), liberation of spermatozoa into the urinary bladder occurs within three hours ; the same animal can be used again after five days. Drs. Octavio Rodrigues Lima and Oswaldo Gelli Pereira, of the Obstetrical Clinic, Medical School of Rio de Janeiro, University of Brazil, state in a communication submitted to the Editors that they have confirmed this work, using as test animal the male toad (Bufo marinus), as the species used by Mainini was not available to them. Using standard chorionic gonadotrophin (supplied by Organon), they have found that 20 I.U. produced a positive reaction in all of eight animals within an hour. Doses above this level invariably produced a positive reaction within an hour, even if the animals were kept at a low temperature in a state of torpidity (9° C). Doses below 20 I.U. did not produce positive results within three hours (twenty animals). CEstrone, progesterone, water and saline gave no positive results. Sixty tests were carried out with the urine of amenorrhceic women. Positive results were found between half an hour and two hours, and were confirmed clinically in all cases. The test appears to be simple, economical and reliable.
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Pregnancy Test using the Male Toad. Nature 161, 676 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/161676c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/161676c0