LUTEAL OXYTOCIN AND MONOESTRY IN THE ROE DEER CAPREOLUS-CAPREOLUS

The relationship between the corpus luteum and the uterus in terms of the secretion of oxytocin and PGF(2 alpha) was investigated in free-li ving and captive roe deer Capreolus capreolus. During the breeding sea son the corpus luteum contained oxytocin and oxytocin-neurophysin mRNA , and secreted oxytocin in response to administration of the PGF(2 alp ha) analogue cloprostenol. The oxytocin receptor was present in the ut erus during the breeding season and during delayed implantation; howev er, in contrast to the situation observed in other ruminants in which it has been studied, administered oxytocin did not stimulate uterine s ecretion of PGF(2 alpha). Trophoblast interferon was undetectable at a ny stage of conceptus development. The absence of the mechanism underl ying episodic uterine secretion of PGF(2 alpha) during luteolysis, whi ch may account for the monoestry of roe deer, is consistent with the p reviously observed luteolytic effect of the PGF(2 alpha) analogue.