title: Blockade of the Ferguson reflex by lumbar epidural anaesthesia in the parturient sheep: effects on oxytocin secretion and uterine venous prostaglandin F levels.
abstract: The role of oxytocin in the increase in utero-ovarian venous prostaglandin F (PGF) level caused by vaginal distension was investigated by using lumbar epidural anaesthesia to block the oxytocin secretion reflex. Whereas vaginal distension raised jugular venous oxytocin and utero-ovarian venous PGF levels in untreated sheep, neither response occurred after lumbar anaesthesia. Lumbar anaesthesia had no effect on the rise in utero-ovarian venous PGF level caused by administered oxytocin. These findings support the suggestion that a reflex release of oxytocin is involved in the elevation of utero-ovarian venous PGF observed after vaginal distension in parturient sheep.
mesh_terms: D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000097:blood*; D012018:Reflex; D012756:Sheep; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply; D014680:Veins
chemical_list: D011460:Prostaglandins F; D010121:Oxytocin