
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Shemesh, Mordechai 
A1  - Dombrovski, Ludmila 
A1  - Gurevich, Michael 
A1  - Shore, Laurence S. 
A1  - Fuchs, Anna-Rita 
A1  - Fields, Michael J. 
T1  - Regulation of bovine cervical secretion of prostaglandins and synthesis of cyclooxygenase by oxytocin
JF  - Reproduction, Fertility and Development
JO  - Reprod. Fertil. Dev.
Y1  - 1997
VL  - 9
IS  - 5
SP  - 525
EP  - 530
KW  - progesterone, indomethacin.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/R96114 
N2  - Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can cause softening of the bovine cervix at oestrus when receptors for oxytocin (OT) are maximally present, indicating a relationship between OT and PGE2 production. It was therefore determined whether OT can stimulate prostaglandin synthesis or induce cyclooxygenase expression in cervical external os segments obtained from pre-oestrous&#8211;oestrous cows. Tissues were minced and incubated (50&#8211;100 mg mL-1 6 h-1) in the presence of OT (10 ng mL-1), progesterone (P4)(5 ng mL-1) and/or indomethacin (5 &#181;g mL-1). It was found that OT stimulated basal PGE2 (7&#183;79 &#177; 1&#183;22 ng 100 mg-1 , mean&#177;s.e.m.; n = 6) in external os segments from pre-oestrous&#8211;oestrous cows (P &#60; 0&#183;03), whereas P4 and indomethacin inhibited basal and OT-stimulated PGE2 production (P &#60; 0&#183;05). Basal prostaglandin F2&#945; (PGF2&#945; ) production was minimal (&#60;1 ng 100 mg-1 ) and OT had no effect on its production. Expression of cyclooxygenase was measured by Western blot analysis following incubation of the tissue (100 mg 1&#183;5 mL-1 3 h-1 ) in the presence of OT (10 ng mL-1 ) and in the presence of P4 (5 ng mL-1 ). It was found that OT stimulated the induction of cyclooxygenase II (79&#177;10%; n = 7, P &#60; 0&#183; 05). In contrast, P4 inhibited the basal expression of this enzyme (-40&#177;5%, n = 7, P &#60; 0&#183; 05) in the presence or absence of OT. It is concluded that, in vitro, OT stimulates PGE2 synthesis by the bovine cervix at oestrus and that this effect is mediated by cyclooxygenase. 
ER  -

