PROGESTERONE, PROSTAGLANDIN F2α, AND OESTRADIOL IN THE UTERO-OVARIAN VENOUS PLASMA OF NON-PREGNANT AND EARLY, UNILATERALLY PREGNANT GUINEA-PIGS

1975 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. BLATCHLEY ◽  
F. M. MAULE WALKER ◽  
N. L. POYSER

SUMMARY Levels of progesterone, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and oestradiol in the utero-ovarian venous plasma of non-pregnant and early, unilaterally pregnant guinea-pigs were compared. Progesterone levels fell from day 12 to day 15 in the non-pregnant animals, while levels of PGF2α and oestradiol increased during this period. In contrast, in the pregnant guinea-pigs, progesterone levels remained high up to day 15 and PGF2α and oestradiol levels remained low in plasma from both the pregnant and non-pregnant sides. These findings support the hypothesis that the guinea-pig conceptus secretes an anti-luteolytic factor in early pregnancy, which reduces the amount of PGF2α produced by the uterus and released into the uterine veins and thereby allows luteal maintenance and continued progesterone secretion. Oestradiol, in the presence of progesterone, is regarded as the physiological stimulus for normal uterine PGF2α synthesis and release. Consequently, the inhibition of ovarian oestradiol secretion seen in early pregnancy is probably at least part of the mechanism by which the anti-luteolytic factor produced by the conceptus reduces PGF2α synthesis by and release from the uterus.

1975 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. L. POYSER ◽  
E. W. HORTON

SUMMARY Five guinea-pigs actively immunized against a prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α)–bovine serum albumin conjugate showed elongated oestrous cycles. During these, corpora lutea were maintained in a functional secretory state as indicated by plasma progesterone levels. The results are compatible with the view that the PGF2α antibodies neutralized the PGF2α released from the uterus and thus prevented its normal luteolytic effect. Similar patterns of progesterone secretion were observed in two hysterectomized animals and in two animals with intra-uterine implants of indomethacin.


1976 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. BLATCHLEY ◽  
B. T. DONOVAN ◽  
N. L. POYSER

SUMMARY The presence of beads in the guinea-pig uterus caused premature regression of the corpora lutea, and a corresponding decrease in utero-ovarian venous plasma levels of progesterone, by days 9–10 of the oestrous cycle. If the beads were placed in one horn only, premature luteal regression occurred only in the adjacent ovary. Induced luteal regression was preceded by an increased release of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) from the uterine horns which contained the beads. Oestradiol benzoate treatment of guinea-pigs carrying beads in one uterine horn overcame the unilateral effect and resulted in premature luteal regression in both ovaries. This was also associated with the early release of PGF2α from both uterine horns, though a difference in the timing of the release was apparent between the bead-containing (experimental) and control horns.


1972 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. L. POYSER

SUMMARY The production of prostaglandins by the uterus and the resting levels of prostaglandins in the uterus on selected days of the oestrous cycle were determined in guinea-pigs. Prostaglandin F2α was detectable in the guinea-pig uterus in small amounts on days 13, 14 and 15 of the cycle. Prostaglandin E2 was present in even smaller amounts on days 14 and 15. The homogenized guinea-pig uterus had the ability to biosynthesize prostaglandins, from endogenous precursors, during incubation on every day of the cycle studied. Four to six times more prostaglandin F2α than E2 was produced on any one day with the amounts of prostaglandins formed increasing towards the end of the oestrous cycle. Indomethacin inhibited the biosynthesis of prostaglandins by the guinea-pig uterus. The implications of these findings are discussed.


1972 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. BLATCHLEY ◽  
B. T. DONOVAN

SUMMARY In mated guinea-pigs one uterine horn was rendered sterile by ligation of the oviduct 2 or 3 days after finding spermatozoa in the vaginal smear. Two glass beads were inserted into the sterile horn on each of days 3–12 and on day 14 in experimental animals but not in controls. At autopsy on day 20 large corpora lutea were present in both ovaries of the control animals. The presence of beads that had been introduced on days 3 and 4 and on days 10–14 resulted in marked regression of the corpora lutea in the adjacent ovary, in the absence of a decidual reaction in the uterus, while luteal enlargement typical of pregnancy occurred in the contralateral ovary. Beads inserted on days 5–8 caused decidualization in the sterile horn but did not induce premature luteal regression in the ipsilateral ovary.


1987 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Hoedemaker ◽  
Kirsten Grunert ◽  
D. H. A. Maas ◽  
E. Grunert

Abstract. Tissue slices from bovine corpus luteum from Days 12 or 13 of the oestrous cycle were super-fused for 8 h, and the progesterone secretion under the influence of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and/or LH was measured. PGF2α at concentrations of 0.28 to 2800 nmol/l medium did not affect the basal progesterone secretion, whereas higher doses (7000 to 28 000 nmol/l) induced a slight increase in hormone secretion. LH, 3.4 nmol/l, caused an increase in the progesterone concentration in superfusates which exceeded the control levels (P < 0.01). This luteotropic effect of LH was not influenced by simultaneous addition of 28 to 2800 nmol/l PGF2α. PGF2α, 2800 nmol/l, did not inhibit progesterone secretion, when administered together with 0.034 to 34 nmol LH/l. Pre-superfusion with 2800 nmol/l PGF2α had no effect on the LH-stimulated increase in progesterone secretion. It is concluded that in cattle, a direct cellular effect of PGF2α, antagonizing the luteotropic function of LH, may be of less importance than other possible direct and indirect PGF2α actions.


1975 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Johnson ◽  
P. A. Manning ◽  
J. F. Hennam ◽  
J. R. Newton ◽  
W. P. Collins

ABSTRACT The concentration of prostaglandin F2α has been determined in serial samples of peripheral venous plasma from women at defined times during labour, and studied in detail throughout two consecutive uterine contractions. In addition, the same compound has been measured in single samples of uterine venous plasma, cord venous plasma, and amniotic fluid in groups of patients during early and late pregnancy, labour and at delivery of the baby. The results from the analysis of peripheral venous plasma show that there is considerable individual variation in the concentration of prostaglandin F2α during labour (mean ± sd, 33.1 ± 11.6 pg/ml). However, it is not possible to establish a definite correlation with either the latent or accelerated phases or with the time of delivery. Furthermore, there is no apparent temporal relationship between the concentrations in peripheral venous plasma and the contractile state of the uterus as assessed by external tocography. In early pregnancy (16th to 20th week) the concentration of prostaglandin F2α (pg/ml, mean ± sd) in peripheral venous plasma is 26.3 ± 4.3 and in amniotic fluid 32.7 ± 26.5. At the 36th week to the start of labour the corresponding values are 27.1 ± 8.1 and 110.0 ± 73.8. At the same time the levels in cord plasma and uterine venous plasma are 100.4 ± 74.9 and 87.9 ± 55.0 respectively. During labour there is a significant increase (P < 0.005, Student's t-test) in the concentration in amniotic fluid (335.1 ± 171.0). The results are discussed in relation to the possible role of prostaglandin F2α in the process of parturition.


1984 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Torjesen ◽  
A. Aakvaag

Abstract. Superluteinized rats were injected with the prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) analogue cloprostenol to induce luteolysis. The treatment decreased progesterone production of ovarian homogenates from 8.9 ± 0.5 to 4.0 ± 0.7 nmol/ovary/10 min (mean ± sem) within 40 min. tochondrial fractions isolated from control and cloprostenol treated animals produced 4.7 ± 0.4 and 2.8 ± 0.3 nmol progesterone/ovary/10 min, respectively. Thus, the PGF2α analogue treatment significantly reduced mitochondrial progesterone production. Addition of the 15 000 × g supernatant fraction did not influence the progesterone production rates of the mitochondrial fraction. The basal progesterone secretion from quartered ovaries decreased from 1.50 ± 0.15 to 0.38 ± 0.05 nmol/ovary during the initial 15 min of incubation following cloprostenol administration. hCG and N6,O2'-dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (DBC) stimulated the progesterone secretion from quartered ovaries, but the response was delayed in ovaries obtained from cloprostenol treated animals. Although the response was delayed, the progesterone secretion following cloprostenol treatment was re-activated with cAMP either directly or via hCG. The increment in progesterone secretion above unstimulated controls in response to DBC was not influenced by the cloprostenol treatment while the increment caused by hCG was decreased. Our data suggest that: 1) PGF2α deactivates mitochondrial progesterone production, 2) this deactivation may be overcome by cAMP, and 3) PGF2α decreases gonadotrophin responsive adenylyl cyclase.


1975 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 676-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Elias ◽  
J. R. Newton ◽  
W. P. Collins

ABSTRACT The concentrations of prostaglandin F2α, progesterone, oestradiol, LH and cortisol have been determined in serial samples of peripheral venous plasma, before, during and after, the intravenous administration of prostaglandin F2α (50 μg/min, for 5 h) to 8 women in the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle. The results show that the mean concentrations of prostaglandin F2α and cortisol increased during the infusion by factors of 8.8 and 2.6 respectively. The highest levels of cortisol occurred after 3 h, and were significantly different (P < 0.0005, Student's t-test) from those obtained before the infusion. There were progressive decreases in the concentrations of LH and progesterone. After 3 h the values for LH were significantly lower (P < 0.0025) than those before the administration of prostaglandin F2α, and the lowest mean value was 26 % of the control. The values for progesterone were significantly lower (P < 0.025) after 5 h, and the mean value at this time was 38 % of the control. The pattern of the mean concentration for oestradiol was similar to that for progesterone. The levels of all 5 compounds had returned to normal within 1 h after completion of the infusion. The findings are discussed.


1976 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. BAIRD ◽  
R. B. LAND ◽  
R. J. SCARAMUZZI ◽  
A. G. WHEELER

SUMMARY The concentrations of oestradiol, androstenedione, progesterone and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were measured in utero-ovarian venous blood collected throughout six oestrous cycles in two ewes with utero-ovarian autotransplants. The secretion of oestradiol was closely correlated with that of androstenedione (r = 0·67, P < 0·001) indicating a common origin from the Graafian follicle. The concentration of these two steroids fluctuated at random throughout the luteal phase with the maximum secretion occurring about 2 days before the onset of oestrus. Functional regression of the corpus luteum, as indicated by a fall in the secretion of progesterone, began on day 12 or day 13, i.e. about 4 days before the onset of oestrus. In five of the six cycles the first significant rise in the secretion of PGF2α occurred on days 12–14 at the time of decline of progesterone secretion, although the release of PGF2α was maximal on the day before the onset of oestrus. There was very little release of PGF2α from the uterus before day 12. The temporal relationship of these events suggests that the uterus will only release PGF2α after it has been primed for 7–10 days with progesterone. The initiation of luteal regression is independent of secretion of oestradiol by the pre-ovulatory follicle which may, however, stimulate the further release of PGF2α responsible for irreversible structural luteolysis on the day of pro-oestrus.


1976 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. BLATCHLEY ◽  
B. T. DONOVAN

SUMMARY The response of the guinea-pig corpus luteum to the luteolytic influence of glass beads placed in the uterus, or to prostaglandin administration, was followed by assay of the progesterone content of blood samples collected daily. Following the introduction of glass beads into the uterus early in the cycle, the secretion of progesterone was curtailed. Treatment with prostaglandin F2α over days 4–6 or 6–8 of the cycle temporarily depressed progesterone release without shortening the life of the corpora lutea. When the drug was administered over days 8–10, 10–12 or 12–14 the depression in progesterone was not followed by any recovery. These observations indicate that the response of the corpora lutea to a luteolytic influence changes during the oestrous cycle.


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