Biology of Reproduction, Vol 32, 907-915, Copyright © 1985 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

ARTICLES

Do catecholamines play a physiologic role in regulating corpus luteum function in the pseudopregnant rabbit?

JE Gadsby, PL Keyes, TS Schwartz, CH Bill 2d and B Lucchesi

In these studies the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol was administered to estrogen-treated hypophysectomized pseudopregnant rabbits in vivo, and serum progesterone concentrations were measured to monitor luteal function. In Experiment 1, which was designed to determine an effective dose of propranolol, 1 mg/(kg X h) s.c. propranolol for 3 h (integral of 80 ng/ml in serum) gave an adequate level of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade, i.e., a 1000-fold inhibition of the blood pressure/isoproterenol dose-response relationship. In Experiment 2, "acute" administration of propranolol (P; 1 mg/(kg X h) s.c.) or saline (control, C) for 24 h on Days 7-8, 10- 11, and 13-14 of pseudopregnancy did not produce any marked differences in serum progesterone concentrations in P or C animals on any of the days tested, although hourly fluctuations were observed. In Experiment 3, "chronic" (4-day) treatment with propranolol was achieved by the use of propranolol-containing pellets placed s.c. (integral of 200-600 ng/ml in serum), on Days 13-17. Control animals received pellets of vehicle only. Serum progesterone concentrations were very similar in P and C animals throughout the period of treatment (Days 13-17) and on Days 18 and 20. We conclude that endogenous catecholamines play no major role in regulating luteal steroidogenesis or corpus luteum regression in the pseudopregnant rabbit.

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				Y. Takao, H. Fujiwara, S. Yoshioka, S. Fujii, and M. Ueda Monoamine oxidase A is highly expressed by the human corpus luteum of pregnancy Reproduction, September 1, 2008; 136(3): 367 - 375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]