Dynamic studies of prostaglandin F-2 alpha in the utero-ovarian circulation of the sheep.

The concentration of prostaglandin (PG) F-2alpha in ovarian arterial blood was compared to that in aortic and carotid blood at different stages of the ovine oestrous cycle, and its concentration measured in the ovarian artery following the infusion of radioactive PGF-2alpha to the uterine vein. In all cases the concentration of PGF-2alpha increased during passage through the ovarian artery, and the increase was proportional to the log of the concentration in the uterine vein. No such change was observed in the concentration of progesterone in the ovarian artery or of PGF in the uterine artery. It was concluded that PGF-2alpha can be and is normally transferred from the uterine vein to the ovarian artery. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that PGF-2alpha of uterine origin is the normal luteolytic agent in the sheep.