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Peripheral blood samples were collected at 10-min intervals from three conscious sheep in which ovulation had been induced 6–10 days previously using exogenous hormones. Saline was infused into a jugular vein for about 1 h, followed by the experimental drug for 1–2 h and followed by saline again for a further 2 h. The experiments were repeated following induced luteolysis and ovulation. The infusion of a β-adrenergic antagonist (propranolol) into three conscious luteal-phase ewes decreased (P<0·05) the peripheral progesterone concentration in each animal. Infusions of β₂-adrenergic agonists (ritodrine and salbutamol) increased (P<0·05) the progesterone concentration in four out of eight experiments. The β-adrenergic antagonist decreased the heart rate and the β₂-adrenergic agonist increased it; the arterial blood pressure and respiratory rate were unaffected. The decrease in the prosgesterone concentration in response to the β-adrenergic antagonist suggests that the normal ovarian secretion of progesterone is partly the result of sympathetic stimulation, and that the sympathetic innervation of the ovary may have a physiological role in modulating progesterone secretion.

J. Endocr. (1988) 116, 137–142