Exchange of krypton-85 between the blood vessels of the human uterine adnexa

Abstract

A miniature Geiger-Mueller probe was inserted into 1 ovary of 8 women undergoing hysterectomy. A control probe was inserted into the other ovary of 2 of the women. 85Kr in 0.15 M NaCl was infused into the adjacent utero-ovarian vein and the radioactivity was registered for 5-14 min after the infusion. An increase of radioactivity was recorded in the ovary in 5 cases. In 1 of the women with 2 probes, no increase in radioactivity was observed in the control ovary. A local transfer of gas from the ovarian branch of the uterine vein into the adjacent ovary is shown. This may be due to a countercurrent exchange mechanism between the vessels of the human uterine adnexa. The countercurrent exchange mechanism may be involved in the countercurrent transfer of prostaglandin F2.alpha. and steroid hormones.