• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2002

The present studies were carried out to examine the effects of exogenous oxytocin(OT) on plasma, uterine and placenta of estradiol-17$\beta$, progesterone, prostaglandin F$_2$$_{\alpha}$ (PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$), Prostaglandin E$_2$(PGE$_2$) and OT receptor concentrations in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats received an injection of exogenous OT on days 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 of pregnancy and day 1 of postpartum. Concentrations of plasma estradiol-17 $\beta$ after OT injection started to increase after day 18 and peaked on day 22 of pregnancy but decreased on day 1 of postpartum. Plasma progesterone concentrations declined gradually from day 18 of pregnancy and decreased more rapidly until postpartum 1 day. Concentrations of estradiol-17$\beta$in uterine tissues after OT injection were sharply increased from day 20 to 22 of pregnancy and progestrone concentrations were peaked on day 16 and decreased rapidly from day 16 to 20 and maintained the same level until day 1 of postpartum. Uterine concentrations of PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$ and PGE$_2$increased gradually until day 20 and peaked on day 22 of pregnancy but showed a marked decrease on day 1 of postpartum. Concentrations of PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$ in placental tissues increased rapidly from day 14 of pregnancy and decreased sharply on day 1 of postpartum. Concentrations of PGE$_2$increased gradually after day 14 and peaked on day 20 of pregnancy. The concentration of OT receptor in uterus was significantly elevated from day 20 and rose to maximum on day 22 of pregnancy. These findings show that OT suppress the concentration of progestrone and stimulate productions of estradiol-17 $\beta$, PGF$_2$$_{\alpha}$, PGE$_2$ and oxytocin receptor concentrations in pregnant rats.