A possible role of prostaglandins in the regulation of ovum transport and oviposition in the domestic hen?

Prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha provoked a contraction of longitudinal tissue strips from the uterine, vaginal and isthmus regions of the chicken oviduct; no response was induced in longitudinal tissue strips from the magnum and infundibulum. PGF2 induced a contraction of circular and longitudinal uterine strips and of circular stips from the isthmus and infundibulum. With both circular and longitudinal vaginal strips a relaxation was obtained. A dose-dependent response was observed with circular magnum strips: contraction with low doses and relaxation at higher doses. No response was obtained with longitudinal tissue strips from the isthmus, magnum and infundibulum. The possible influence of both prostaglandins in the mechanism of ovum transport and oviposition in the domestic hen is discussed.