HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sernia, C. Articles by Thomas, W. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sernia, C. Articles by Thomas, W. G.

There is inconclusive evidence that oxytocin acts directly on the corpus luteum and affects steroidogenesis. Since any such action would probably be mediated by oxytocin receptors, these should be present in luteal tissue. In this study, homogenates of corpora lutea from both pregnant and non-pregnant ewes were examined for oxytocin receptors by radio-receptor assay. Specific oxytocin binding was not observed in luteal tissue during the oestrous cycle. However specific binding was found in the corpora lutea of pregnant ewes; appearing at a fetal head length of approximately 0·65 cm (about 30 days of pregnancy) and persisting to a head size of 11 cm, the largest size examined in this study. The affinity (K_d) of the receptor was calculated as 2·9 ± 0·3 nmol/l (S.E.M.; n = 9), a value similar to that obtained for the uterus. The receptor number ranged from a low of 8·7± 3·2 fmol/mg protein (n = 6) at a head size of <0·65 cm, to a maximum of 40·1 ± 6·5 fmol/mg protein (n = 25) at a head size of 2·5–3·75 cm. These values were lower than our estimate of 588 ± 39 fmol/mg protein (n = 5) for the uterus. It is concluded that a direct action of oxytocin on the corpus luteum is possible but only after the first month of pregnancy and not in the corpus luteum of the oestrous cycle.

Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 121, 117–123

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Ndiaye, D. H. Poole, and J. L. Pate Expression and Regulation of Functional Oxytocin Receptors in Bovine T Lymphocytes Biol Reprod, April 1, 2008; 78(4): 786 - 793. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Gimpl and F. Fahrenholz The Oxytocin Receptor System: Structure, Function, and Regulation Physiol Rev, April 1, 2001; 81(2): 629 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]