Regulation of pulsatile secretion of prostaglandin F2 alpha from the ovine uterus by ovarian steroids.

Two experiments were conducted to determine how progesterone and oestradiol regulate pulsatile secretion of PGF2 alpha from the ovine uterus. In Expt 1, ovariectomized ewes received: (1) no treatment, (2) oestradiol, (3) progesterone, or (4) oestradiol and progesterone (n = 5 ewes per treatment group) to approximate the changes in steroids that occur during the oestrous cycle. Jugular venous blood samples were collected at 30 min intervals for 48 h beginning at 08:00 on day 14 of steroid replacement. Blood samples were collected from five intact ewes at a comparable time of the oestrous cycle for comparison. The number and magnitude of pulses in 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (PGFM) in jugular venous blood samples were used to assess uterine secretion of PGF2 alpha. Experiment 2 was conducted as Expt 1, except that the progesterone replacement protocol was modified to duplicate more closely the temporal pattern of progesterone observed in intact ewes. Results were similar in both experiments. Intact ewes averaged 4.4 +/- 0.6 pulses per 48 h blood sampling period. The frequency of pulses was less in ovariectomized ewes (P < 0.05). The number of pulses was increased by progesterone treatment (P < 0.01); the number of pulses in ovariectomized ewes receiving progesterone replacement was similar to that observed in intact ewes. There was a tendency for oestradiol to have a positive effect on the number of pulses (P = 0.12). The magnitude of pulses in intact ewes averaged 419 +/- 38 pg ml-1 and was much less in ovariectomized ewes (P < 0.05) than in intact ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)