Uterine prostaglandin F2 alpha & E2 production and content during the second half of the oestrous cycle of the sheep - possible local control of the uterus by the ovary.
The amount of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the endometrial tissue of sheep and the ability of this tissue to synthesize these prostaglandins have been monitored daily during the latter part of 12 oestrous cycles in seven ewes. Plasma concentrations of PGF2 alpha and progesterne were measured simultaneously during ten of these cycles. No difference could be found between the content of or the synthesizing ability for PGF2 alpha or PGE2 of caruncular and non-caruncular endometrial tissue, although the myometrium contained and produced significantly less PGF2 alpha than either of these tissues. There was no relationship between PGF2 alpha content, secretion and synthesizing ability of endometrial tissue although changes in the uterine content of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were directly related. Changes in the ability of the uterine endometrium to synthesize PGF2 alpha varied with the presence or absence of the neighbouring ovary. When the adjacent ovary was present there was a statistically significant increase in the ability of the endometrium to synthesize PGF2 alpha 3 and 2 days before the onset of oestrus. In the absence of the ovary this increase did not occur. The data suggests that the ovary has a local controlling influence over the ability of the endometrium to synthesize PGF2 alpha.
D000818:Animals; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000378:metabolism*; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*
D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D011374:Progesterone