Biology of Reproduction, Vol 10, 549-554, Copyright © 1974 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

Comparison of the Effects of Adrenergic Drugs and Prostaglandins on Rabbit Oviduct Motility

¹ Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 01545

The effects of adrenergic drugs and prostaglandins (PGs) on rabbit oviductal isthmus motility were compared. Balloon-tipped fluid-filled catheters placed in the lumen of the isthmus were used to record muscular activity. The intravenous (iv) injection of E-series PGs and the -adrenoceptor stimulator isoproterenol both caused a nearly complete suppression of spontaneous oviductal activity. Pretreatment with the -adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol effectively blocked the response of the oviduct to isoproterenol but had no effect on the response to E- or F-series PGs. A maintained spasmodic contraction was induced by the iv injection of both norepinephrine, an -adrenoceptor stimulator, and F-series PGs. Pretreatment with the -adrenoceptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine blocked the response of the oviduct to norepinephrine without having any effect on the response to PGEs or PGFs. A mutual antagonism between the -adrenoceptor stimulator and PGEs, and between the -adrenoceptor stimulator and PGFs was also demonstrated. The relationship and similarity between adrenergic and PG responses indicate that both agents may be synergistically involved in the control of oviduct motility. The demonstration that adrenergic antagonists block the response of the oviduct to adrenergic stimulation, but have no effect on the response to PGs, suggests that adrenergic stimulation may cause the release of PGs.