[Electromyographic activity of the uterus in the ewe during the sexual season: comparison of natural estrus and estrus induced by progestagens alone or with PMSG supplementation].

Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the uterus was recorded in vivo in 3 groups of ewes in oestrus during the breeding season. The ewes were either in natural oestrus or in oestrus induced by progestagens with or without PMSG supplementation. Plasma concentrations of LH were measured at regular intervals in order to determine the onset of the preovulatory surge of LH (To). During natural oestrus, the uterus exhibited a spontaneous rhythmic activity composed of bursts of potentials. Burst frequency was maximal at the moment of preovulatory LH release, then decreased. Percentages of downward, upward and non-definite propagations were calculated during 1-h periods at the beginning of the LH peak and 6, 12, 24 and 36 h afterwards. There was no difference between the relative proportions of these types of propagation at any of the times analysed. Mean burst frequency was not modified by progestagen pre-treatment but showed more interanimal variability at the moment of maximal frequency in ewes treated with progestagen. For the first 12 h after To, the organization of uterine activity was not modified by progestagens but non-definite propagation became predominant 24 and 36 h after To, namely from the time of ovulation onward. PMSG increased burst frequency. The increase of frequency variability between animals, normally observed at the beginning of oestrus, and the predominance of non-definite propagation, normally observed at the end of progestagen-induced oestrus, did not appear when the ewes had been treated with PMSG.