INFUSION OF TRITIATED PROSTAGLANDIN F2 INTO THE ANTERIOR UTERINE VEIN OF THE EWE: ABSENCE OF LOCAL VENOUS-ARTERIAL TRANSFER

Abstract

A tracer dose of the presumptive uterine luteolytic factor (PGF_2α) was introduced into the anterior uterine vein of twelve ewes, either as a bolus or as a 40- to 60-min infusion (0·2 μCi/min). The ipsilateral ovary was left attached to or disconnected from its ligaments. Neither a bolus nor an infusion of [9-³H]PGF_2α led to any transfer of radioactivity in the ovarian artery under controlled experimental conditions. These results show conclusively that diffusion, filtration, counter-current exchanges and active transport do not occur between the anterior uterine vein, the utero-ovarian vein and the ovarian artery. A direct and local luteolytic action of PGF_2α is therefore questionable.