TOTAL CONTENT OF PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA IN THE ENDOMETRIUM AND MYOMETRIUM FROM VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE PORCINE UTERINE HORN DURING THE ESTROUS-CYCLE

The purpose of this study was to determine effects of various stages o f the estrous cycle on the content and concentration of PGF(2 alpha) i n endometrium and myometrium in different segment of the uterine horn and whether different methods of expressing PGF(2 alpha) data would af fect interpretation of results. Total content of PGF(2 alpha) in the e ndometrium and myometrium of the entice uterine horn, and PGF(2 alpha) concentrations in five sections of uterine horn each of equal length (1 to 5 beginning from the ovarian end) were measured in gilts during three different phases of the estrous cycle: the early luteal phase (D ays 3 to 6 of the estrous cycle), mid-luteal phase (Days 9 to 12), and during luteolysis (Days 15 to 18). The total content of PGF(2 alpha) in the early and mid-luteal phases was similar (P greater than or equa l to 0.05) in both the endometrium and myometrium. During luteolysis t he content of PGF(2 alpha) in the endometrium and myometrium increased 7-fold and 4-fold, respectively, when compared to the early luteal ph ase. The distribution of PGF(2 alpha) was similar throughout the lengt h of the uterine horn and this did not change during the phases of the cycle studied. The PGF(2 alpha) concentrations during different phase s of the estrous cycle differed with methods of expressing the data i. e. ng g(-1) tissue, ng mg(-1) DNA, ng mg(-1) protein, but the relative differences were not appreciably altered.