ENDOCRINE CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH LUTEAL REGRESSION IN THE EWE; THE SECRETION OF OVARIAN OESTRADIOL, PROGESTERONE AND ANDROSTENEDIONE AND UTERINE PROSTAGLANDIN F2α THROUGHOUT THE OESTROUS CYCLE

Abstract

SUMMARY The concentrations of oestradiol, androstenedione, progesterone and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were measured in utero-ovarian venous blood collected throughout six oestrous cycles in two ewes with utero-ovarian autotransplants. The secretion of oestradiol was closely correlated with that of androstenedione (r = 0·67, P < 0·001) indicating a common origin from the Graafian follicle. The concentration of these two steroids fluctuated at random throughout the luteal phase with the maximum secretion occurring about 2 days before the onset of oestrus. Functional regression of the corpus luteum, as indicated by a fall in the secretion of progesterone, began on day 12 or day 13, i.e. about 4 days before the onset of oestrus. In five of the six cycles the first significant rise in the secretion of PGF2α occurred on days 12–14 at the time of decline of progesterone secretion, although the release of PGF2α was maximal on the day before the onset of oestrus. There was very little release of PGF2α from the uterus before day 12. The temporal relationship of these events suggests that the uterus will only release PGF2α after it has been primed for 7–10 days with progesterone. The initiation of luteal regression is independent of secretion of oestradiol by the pre-ovulatory follicle which may, however, stimulate the further release of PGF2α responsible for irreversible structural luteolysis on the day of pro-oestrus.