Ovarian 3'5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and prostaglandins: a sequential comparison of gonadotropin-stimulated events in small and large ovine follicles.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates a cascade of ovarian hormonal events that culminate in ovulation. This study was designed to investigate, in sheep, sequential changes in prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the theca, granulosa and follicular fluid of large preovulatory follicles and small nonovulatory follicles in response to LH. On d 15 postestrus, preovulatory or nonovulatory follicles were injected intrafollicularly with saline or LH. Ewes were then ovariectomized at 0, 2, 4, or 8 h postinjection. Injected follicles were excised; theca, granulosa and fluid were separated, weighed and assayed for cAMP and PG. Contents of cAMP in the theca, granulosa and fluid of preovulatory follicles increased (P less than .01) 2 to 4 h after injection of LH. Increases (P less than .05) in contents of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha in the theca and fluid of preovulatory follicles were observed between 4 and 8 h after injection of LH. The time courses of LH-induced synthesis of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha in preovulatory follicles were parallel. Luteinizing hormone had no effect on PGE2, PGF2 alpha or cAMP in any compartment of small follicles. Contents of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha varied with time in both theca and granulosa of large and small, saline- and LH-injected follicles. Although specific increases in cAMP and PG followed an injection of LH only in large follicles, the parallel temporal relationship of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha did not explain the dichotomous functions ascribed to PGE2 and PGF2 alpha during the periovulatory period.