Effect of alcohol on the fertility of female rabbits.

Abstract

It has been generally accepted that oxytocin is released during coitus by the female rat, rabbit and the lactating woman (Harris, 1955). The physiological significance of this release of oxytocin is not clear, but Harris (1947) has suggested that in the rabbit, coitus stimulates the neurohypophysis by a nervous reflex to liberate oxytocin which increases the motility of the uterus and thus helps in the transport of seminal fluid up the female reproductive tract. If the oxytocin released during coitus is responsible for sperm transport, an agent which prevents the release of oxytocin might prevent sperm ascent and fertilization. Chaudhury (1960) has shown that a 7·5–10 % ethanol solution administered to female rats in a volume of 5 ml./100g. body wt. inhibits the release of oxytocin in response to the suckling stimulus as assessed by a block in milk ejection. Fuchs & Wagner (1963) have confirmed these findings and have shown