Monkey ovarian contractility: its relationship to ovulation

P. Virutamasen, K. H. Wright, E. E. Wallach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ovarian contractility was studied in the rhesus monkey in vivo and in vitro. Spontaneous ovarian contractions were observed in all five monkeys studied in vivo. In the in vitro preparations, all six ovaries removed during the follicular phase exhibited spontaneous contractions, whereas only three of nine preparations studied in the postovulatory phase contracted spontaneously. The corpus luteum bearing ovary of a pregnant monkey failed to contract in vitro, whereas its contralateral ovary exhibited spontaneous contractility and responded to various pharmacologic agents. Of 20 other ovaries studied without the benefit of previous mentrual cycle data, 12 demonstrated spontaneous contractions. The influence of adrenergic agents (norepinephrine, isoproterenol, phenoxybenzamine, and propranolol), prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF2α), and oxytocin on observed contractile patterns was also investigated. The observations: demonstrate that the primate ovary contracts both in vivo and in vitro; indicate that a variety of pharmacologic agents are capable of influencing this process in predictable fashion; support the possibility that ovarian contractility may play a role in the process of ovulation in the primate; and suggest that ovarian contractile patterns are related to the local hormonal status of the ovary.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)763-771
Number of pages9
JournalFertility and sterility
Volume24
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1973
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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