Luteal oxytocin and monoestry in the roe deer Capreolus capreolus

• Published in: Journal of reproduction & fertility Vol. 101; no. 3; pp. 651 - 656
• Main Authors: Flint, A P, Krzywinski, A, Sempéré, A J, Mauget, R, Lacroix, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Society for Reproduction and Fertility 01.08.1994
• Subjects: Animals; Corpus Luteum - drug effects; Corpus Luteum Maintenance - physiology; Deer - physiology; Dinoprost - pharmacology; Estrus - metabolism; Female; Oxytocin - metabolism; Oxytocin - pharmacology; Pregnancy; Receptors, Oxytocin - metabolism; Uterus - drug effects; Uterus - metabolism
• ISSN: 1470-1626; 0022-4251; 1741-7899
• DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.1010651

The relationship between the corpus luteum and the uterus in terms of the secretion of oxytocin and PGF 2α was investigated in free-living and captive roe deer Capreolus capreolus . During the breeding season the corpus luteum contained oxytocin and oxytocin–neurophysin mRNA, and secreted oxytocin in response to administration of the PGF 2α analogue cloprostenol. The oxytocin receptor was present in the uterus during the breeding season and during delayed implantation; however, in contrast to the situation observed in other ruminants in which it has been studied, administered oxytocin did not stimulate uterine secretion of PGF 2α . Trophoblast interferon was undetectable at any stage of conceptus development. The absence of the mechanism underlying episodic uterine secretion of PGF 2α during luteolysis, which may account for the monoestry of roe deer, is consistent with the previously observed luteolytic effect of the PGF 2α analogue.