Abdominal vagotomy decreased the number of ova shed and serum progesterone levels on estrus in the cyclic hamster.

The effects of abdominal vagotomy (AVGT) on ovarian function were studied in cyclic hamsters. AVGT significantly decreased the number of ova shed (AVGT: 10.5 +/- 1.5 ova/hamster, sham: 15.8 +/- 0.7 ova/hamster; P less than 0.05) and serum progesterone levels (AVGT: 2.1 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, sham: 3.9 +/- 0.7 ng/ml; P less than 0.05) on the morning of estrus. However, progesterone concentrations in the corpora lutea and non-luteal ovary on estrus in the AVGT and sham groups were similar. The serum estradiol levels in both groups on proestrus increased from 0900 h (AVGT: 75 +/- 10 pg/ml, sham: 72 +/- 6 pg/ml) to 1500 h (AVGT: 204 +/- 27 pg/ml, sham: 196 +/- 35 pg/ml) but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Partial degranulation of ovarian mast cells was not increased in the AVGT group. Also, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) content in the ovary was not increased by AVGT at 0900 h on proestrus (AVGT: 60.1 +/- 16.8 pg/ovary, sham: 37.2 +/- 14.3 pg/ovary). These results indicated that AVGT interferes with normal ovulation and results in an increase in the number of atretic follicles, but that these effects by AVGT seemed not to be mediated through ovarian mast cells and VIP.