Avian oviduct motility induced by prostaglandin E 1

Abstract

Oviduct segments from infundibulum, magnum, uterus, uterovaginal junction and vagina of actively laying hens at preoviposition time were tested for their contractile reaction to prostaglandin E 1 by in vitro or in vivo methods. Maximum stimulatory response was observed from the muscular strips of the proximal oviduct segment (infundibulum) and a complete relaxation was recorded from the distal part (vagina) at molar concentrations of 1.4 × 10 −7, 3.4 × 10 −7 and 7.0 × 10 −7. The uterine strips reacted with a stimulatory response at higher concentrations (1.4 × 10 −6 and 2.8 × 10 −6 moles), but lacked any significant change at lower concentrations. The uterovaginal muscular strips showed a mild but prolonged inhibitory response, while the magnum responded with a significant increase in the luminal pressure when tested in vivo . It is concluded that PGE 1 exerts a stimulatory effect on the uterus to initiate transport of the egg to subsequent segments (uterovaginal junction and vagina), which relax under PGE 1 influence and allow passage of the egg by pressure differences.