Oxytocin receptors in dioestrous and anoestrous canine uteri

The aim of the study was to localize oxytocin receptors (OTR) and measure mRNA expression of OTR in the canine uterus with and without the influence of progesterone. Uterine samples were taken from nine anoestrous and eight dioestrous bitches during ovariohysterectomy. Histological changes were evaluated in haematoxylin and eosin (HE)‐stained samples. Purified polyclonal antibody for OTR was used in immunohistochemistry to localize receptors in uterine layers. Relative mRNA concentration of OTR was evaluated with real‐time PCR from full‐thickness uterine samples taken from the middle horn and the body. Myometrial smooth muscle cells, endometrial luminal epithelium (LE) and deep and superficial glandular epithelium were positively stained for oxytocin receptors in non‐pregnant animals. No significant difference in staining intensity was detected between uterine middle horn and body. However, the staining intensity of LE was significantly higher in dioestrous than in anoestrous uteri (p < .05). Leucocytes and endothelium of blood vessels were also positively stained for OTR. Real‐time PCR showed no significant differences in OTR mRNA expression between the middle horn and the body of the uterus, or between anoestrous and dioestrous uterus. No correlation was noted between OTR mRNA expression and blood progesterone concentration. In conclusion, despite the apparent inactivity, the uterus of the non‐pregnant bitch expresses OTR. The distribution or relative expression of OTR does not differ between uterine horn and body in dioestrus or anoestrus except in LE. LE may have more oxytocin‐dependent activity during dioestrus than anoestrus.     

Oxytocin Secretion and Management of Parturition in the Pig

This paper will examine the augmentation of oxytocin (OT) secretion in the final day before parturition in the pig, and review the key endocrine systems of influence. Recent experiments have shown that increases in plasma OT above baseline secretion were not seen until 7 hours prior to the birth of the first piglet. Progesterone release begins to decline some days before birth and is unlikely to provide such acute control of OT release immediately before birth. The involvement of relaxin is complex but it is possible that the prepartum relaxin surge, which ends close to the OT rise, attenuates OT secretion to prevent excessive myometrial activity until cervical softening has occurred. Increasing myometrial electromyographic activity appears to be seen as relaxin concentrations decline and OT increase. Endogenous opioid peptides within the hypothalamus exert a profound influence upon OT secretion during birth, and some effects are also seen prepartum. It has been proposed that this system may allow parturition to be interrupted or slowed in response to changes in environment. The therapeutic choice of exogenous injections of OT to control the onset time of parturition will be discussed in the light of current physiological knowledge.     

Effect of Administration of Oxytocin During Diestrus on Corpus Luteum Function and Endometrial Oxytocin Receptor Concentration in Cycling Mares

The objectives of this study were to (1) compare the effect of twice versus once daily administration of oxytocin on days 7-14 after ovulation on the duration of corpus luteum (CL) function and (2) determine the effect of oxytocin treatment on endometrial oxytocin receptor concentration in mares. In experiment 1, mares were randomly assigned to three groups on day 7: (1) untreated control group (n = 7), (2) twice daily oxytocin treatment group (n = 7), and (3) once daily oxytocin treatment group (n = 8). Oxytocin-treated mares received 60 U of oxytocin intramuscularly (IM) the respective number of times each day on days 7 through 14. One of seven control mares (14%), five of seven (71%) twice daily oxytocin-treated mares, and five of eight (63%) once daily oxytocin-treated mares had prolonged CL function. There was no significant difference in the proportion of mares with prolonged CL function between the two oxytocin-treated groups, and collectively, oxytocin treatment increased (P < .05) the proportion of mares with prolonged CL function compared with no treatment. In experiment 2, mares were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 5/group): (1) saline-treated control mares, and (2) oxytocin-treated mares. Beginning on day 7, control mares received 3 mL of sterile saline IM twice daily, and oxytocin-treated mares received 60 U of oxytocin IM twice daily through day 14. On day 15, endometrial oxytocin-binding capacity was determined (as a measure of oxytocin receptor concentration), and there was no difference (P > .1) between control and oxytocin-treated mares (1,465.7 ± 108 and 1,382.8 ± 108 fmol/mg protein [mean ± standard error of mean], respectively).     

Endometrial Oxytocin Receptor Concentration and Activity in Prepubertal Ewe Lambs

We have measured endometrial oxytocin receptor concentrations during prepuberty in ewe lambs, and have investigated the effect of progesterone on the activity of these receptors. In the first study, oxytocin receptor concentrations were undetectable in 2-week prenatal lambs but had increased immediately following birth and were then maintained throughout prepubertal life. Despite the presence of oxytocin receptors animals showed no prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) release in response to exogenous oxytocin challenge at either 3 or 5 months of age. In a second study in 4-month-old ewe lambs treatment with exogenous progesterone resulted in the appearance of PGF(2alpha) release in response to oxytocin after 10 days of treatment. Thus, during the prepubertal life, ewe lambs possess the prerequisites of a luteolytic mechanism in that they have a dormant population of oxytocin receptors in which progesterone can induce oxytocin-stimulated PGF(2alpha) release.     

催产素在奶牛生产中的应用

从催产素的作用机理入手,总结了催产素在奶牛助产、预防和治疗胎衣不下、治疗子宫迟缓、治疗子宫内膜炎和子宫积脓、催乳、治疗持久性黄体不孕症、提高受胎率等方面的应用情况和注意事项。     

摘除卵巢绵羊经雌激素处理后子宫催产素受体的测定

给摘除卵巢绵羊埋植雌激素后，采取其子宫肉阜、肉阜间子宫内膜、肌层和其他器官组织样品用于催产素受体（ｒＯＴ）测定。３种子宫组织和输卵管含有ｒＯＴ；阴道、肌肉、小肠、肝组织中ｒＯＴ浓度不可测。子宫组织中ｒＯＴ仅具有单一类型的结合点，Ｋｄ值为１．３５ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ，最大结合容量为３０２．８ｆｍｏｌ／ｍｇ蛋白。     

催产素和加压素在犬泡状绦虫的免疫组化定位和分布

应用免疫组化ＡＢＣ法研究了催产素和加压素在犬泡状绦虫的定位和分布。在犬泡状绦虫中枢神经系统的脑神经节、２条主要纵神经索和环神经内观察到大量阳性纤维和少量阳性细胞。周围神经系统可见阳性神经纤维在皮层和实质形成神经网。从纵神经索和环神经发出的阳性纤维向生殖器官和皮层的肌肉分布。顶突的小钩之间的肌肉存在阳性反应物，小钩周围有较明显的阳性反应环。生殖器官呈现着色深浅不同的阳性反应，以卵囊—梅氏腺复合体最为明显。结果表明，催产素和加压素的免疫反应物具有相同的分布，它们可能参与虫体的神经内分泌调节。     

羔羊期和性成熟期奶山羊下丘脑中催产素的表达

采用免疫组化链霉素抗生物素蛋白-过氧化物酶法(SP法),检测羔羊期和性成熟期雌性奶山羊下丘脑中催产素表达的变化规律.结果显示,催产素免疫反应阳性神经元在羔羊和性成熟羊的视上核、室旁核、乳头体内侧核等核团均有分布,在羔羊的室周核、视前内侧核等核团广泛分布,但在性成熟羊的这些核团却未见分布.在视上核、室旁核、乳头体内侧核等核团的催产素免疫阳性神经元数量,性成熟羊显著高于羔羊(P＜0.01);这些核团中催产素免疫阳性产物的平均灰度值,羔羊显著低于性成熟羊(P＜0.01),在其他核团则羔羊高于性成熟羊,且大部分差异明显(P＜0.01).结果提示,性成熟羊下丘脑中除室周核、视前内侧核等核团外,室旁核、视上核、乳头体内侧核、乳头体后核等核团,催产素的表达高于羔羊,说明这些核团对生殖系统的发育成熟可能有重要作用.     

Uterine Responses to Exogenous Oxytocin Before and After Pre-partum Luteolysis in the Cow

The aim of this study was to test the functional status of uterine oxytocin receptors in cows in vivo around parturition. The animals received consecutive, intra‐arterial injections of 800, 1600 and 3200 mU of oxytocin at three different stages: during late gestation (days 260–274), at 12 h and at 24 h after intramuscular injection of a prostaglandin F_2α analogue at day 275 to induce parturition. Cows (n=6) had been provided with myometrial electrodes and a catheter had been installed in the aorta and in a branch of the uterine vein (UV). Regular blood samples were obtained from the UV from 5 min before until 45 min after each oxytocin injection to measure plasma levels of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and oxytocin. Uterine electromyographic (EMG) activity was registered continuously during each experiment. The increase of oxytocin levels in UV plasma after intra‐arterial injections was dose dependent (p < 0.02). Pre‐ and post treatment oxytocin levels at 24 h after induction of parturition were significantly increased (p=0.0313). Both during late pregnancy and at 12 h after induction of parturition, oxytocin caused a significant increase in EMG activity (p=0.022). After the 3200 mU dose the increase was significantly higher than with the other 2 doses (p=0.004). After each dose, EMG activity returned to baseline levels within some 15 min. At 24 h after induction of parturition, the pre‐treatment level of EMG activity had increased. Doses of 800 mU and 1600 mU of oxytocin produced a significant (p=0.022) increment of EMG activity, which was of the same magnitude as during the preceding stages; after 3200 mU of oxytocin the response was significantly higher than before (p=0.008). No significant increases of PGF_2α levels in UV plasma could be measured after oxytocin injections at any of the three stages. It is concluded that the myometrium of the pregnant cow responds in vivo to physiological doses of oxytocin. At 24 h after induction of parturition, when luteolysis has occurred and a parturient pattern of parturient myometrial activity has already started to develop, the response is enhanced. Physiological doses of oxytocin did not evoke a spurt release of PGF_2α in uterine venous blood during the peripartal period.     

催产素对母猪繁殖机能的调节作用

催产素对母猪的繁殖机能有较广泛的调节作用,它能促进子宫上皮细胞释放前列腺素。分娩过程中使用催产素能够促进分娩,但对子宫内的胎儿也有较大的负面影响。人工授精时,在精液里添加催产素虽然不能提高受胎率,却可以提高总胎儿数和健康胎儿数。文章就催产素这3个方面的生理作用的研究进展做一综述。     

Effect of Oxytocin,IBMX and dbcAMP on Rabbit Ovarian Follicles

Oxytocin (OT) and protein kinase A (PKA), a possible intracellular mediator of hormone action in the ovary, can be potent activators of ovarian functions and fertility. Nevertheless, action of OT on ovarian follicle atresia has not been studied yet. Only single administration of PKA activators [3‐isobutyl‐1‐methyl‐xanthine (IBMX) and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP)] on ovarian follicle atresia was studied previously. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of OT (single treatment per one reproductive cycle, multiple treatments for three cycles), IBMX and dbcAMP (multiple treatments) on folliculogenesis and follicular atresia in rabbit. The ovarian cycle in control females was induced only by gonadotropins. Experimental females received co‐administration of gonadotropins with OT, IBMX or dbcAMP (at 50 μg/female). All females were artificially inseminated. Single‐treated females were euthanized after 18–19 h. Multiple‐treated females were euthanized after the third reproductive cycle. Histological sections of the ovaries were prepared and evaluated by a light microscopy. The follicles were divided into four classes according to the structure of granulosa and theca cells as follows: none or small atresia, cystic atresia, obliterative atresia and atresia associated with luteinization. The ovaries from the control and experimental females, treated during one reproductive cycle or three cycles, were compared. Single OT co‐administration increased proportion of follicles with atresia associated with luteinization, but not other types of atresia. No influence of multiple OT co‐administration on follicular atresia was recorded. Multiple IBMX and dbcAMP co‐administration decreased the proportion of atretic follicles and increased the proportion of healthy follicles without atresia.     

Study on the Stability of Sheep Oxytocin in the Osmotic Pump

The experiment was aimed to evaluate the stability of oxytocin in osmotic pump (ALZET^®) at 39.1℃. The experiment was divided into 3 groups, i.e. the osmotic pump group, microcentrifugal tube group and control group. The control group remained frozen at -80℃, the other two groups were incubated in 39.1℃ incubator, and the samples were collected at different time points. All samples were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole/flight time mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS) method. The oxidation process of oxytocin in osmotic pump at 39.1℃ was analyzed by comparing the peak area of main oxidized products extracted ion chromatogram. The results showed that the degree of oxidation increased with time in osmotic pump and microcentrifugal tube at 39.1℃, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P >0.05). The percentage of oxytocin prototype of samples which collected at different time points of osmotic pump group and microcentrifugal tube group versus control group were 83.6% to 117.8% and 83.2% to 116.2%, respectively, suggested that the trials involved in the osmotic pump implantation of oxytocin in sheep need to consider the effect of content changes caused by oxytocin oxidation on the test results.