Prostaglandins

Authors: Irvine CHG
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 22, Issue 11, pp 223, Nov 1974
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock
Subject Terms: Endocrine/autocrine/paracrine, Reproduction, Reproduction - female, Reproduction - hormones
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In a very recent review of the evidence for and against prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) being the uterine luteolysin in the sheep, Goding (1974), who is one of the foremost workers in this field, addressed himself to the problem: (1) that a uterine luteolysin exists, (2) that PGF_2α is “a” uterine luteolysin, (3) that PGR, is “the” uterine lutelolysin. Among the evidence considered were measurements made in several laboratories showing that the concentration of PGF_2α in uterine venous blood of normal sheep at the time of luteolysis is 25 ng/ml (Thorburn et al 1972; McCracken et al 1972) giving a flow rate in this vessel from the uterus towards the ovary containing the corpus luteum of 20 to 50 μg/h (Goding, 1974). Earlier work had shown that, if the entry of PGF_2α into this vein and thus into the corpus luteum were prevented, luteolysis was suppressed; however, luteolysis could be induced by infusion into the vein of PGF_2α at the rate of 20 to 25 μ/h (Goding et al 1971-2; Thorburn et al 1972). This is the classical replacement experiment and surely supplied evidence as direct as one could expect to obtain in endocrinology…

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