Effect of estradiol and progesterone on noradrenaline content in nerves of the oviduct, uterus and vagina in ovariectomized pigs.
The effect of estradiol and progesterone on the noradrenaline (NA) content in nerve fibres of the oviduct, uterus and vagina was investigated in 37 ovariectomized sows, divided into 4 groups. A recovery period was 4 weeks. Starting from the 9th day before killing, the animals were injected 10 times (1 injection/day; the last injection was made 3 h before killing) with: group 1 (C; control)-arachidic oil vehicle, group 2 (P)-progesterone, group 3 (E)-estradiol benzoate, group 4 (P+E)-mixture of estradiol and progesterone. After the recovery period the animals were slaughtered and oviducts, samples of uterine horns and cervices, and vaginas were collected. The tissues collected from 6 animals of each group were processed for the spectrofluorimetric method according to Campusano et al. [4] to determine tissue level of NA. The organs from the remaining 3 animals were assigned to histochemical analysis of catecholamine-containing structures using the glioxylic acid-induced fluorescence method according to Kyösola et al. [13]. Administration of estradiol resulted in a decrease in NA content in the uterine horn and cervical tissues. Administration of progesterone induced an increase in NA content in tissues of the oviduct and uterine cervix. Administration of a mixture of estradiol and progesterone resulted in an increase in NA content in the oviductal, uterine cervical and vaginal tissues. Generally, changes in the tissue NA levels were closely paralleled by changes in the catecholamine histofluorescence. The data obtained suggest that ovarian steroids may affect the metabolism of NA in neurons supplying the porcine female reproductive tract.
Department of Animal Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Agricultural and Technical Academy, Olsztyn, Poland.
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Kaleczyc
D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D014599:Uterus / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D009638:Norepinephrine