Regression of the corpora lutea in sheep in response to cloprostenol is not affected by loss of luteal oxytocin after hysterectomy.

Concentrations of oxytocin in corpora lutea were reduced from 1706 to less than 15 ng/g wet wt after hysterectomy in sheep during the oestrous cycle. Hysterectomy also blocked the appearance of raised levels of oxytocin in ovarian and jugular venous plasma caused by cloprostenol. Administration of cloprostenol to hysterectomized ewes resulted in luteal regression, which occurred as rapidly as in intact animals. Therefore oxytocin in the corpus luteum during the oestrous cycle is unlikely to be involved in intraluteal events mediating prostaglandin-induced luteolysis.