CONTROL BY OVARIAN HORMONES OF THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN THE SHEEP UTERUS

Abstract

Estrous, luteal-phase and ovariectomized ewes were inoculated in the uterine lumen with Escherichia coli and killed 2, 4, 8 or 16 hr later. Intense leucocytic responses and closely associated bactericidal activity occurred within 4 hr in ovariectomized ewes, within 8 hr in estrous ewes and within 16 hr in luteal-phase ewes. Intense leucocytic emigration was inhibited for 2 to 3 hr in estrous ewes and considerably longer in luteal-phase ewes. No evidence was found that hormones inhibited the passage of extravasated leucocytes through endometrial stroma. The incubation of E. coli in excised uteri failed to indicate that non-cellular bactericidal factors were normally present in uterine lumens of ovariectomized ewes.