N. Einerjensen et al., RAPID ABSORPTION AND LOCAL REDISTRIBUTION OF PROGESTERONE AFTER VAGINAL APPLICATION IN GILTS, Acta veterinaria Scandinavica, 34(1), 1993, pp. 1-7
Catheters were implanted in 6 anaesthetized gilts (3 animals in the fo
llicular phase, 3 in the luteal phase) into a carotid artery and into
the utero-ovarian vein and uterine artery on both sides. The uterine l
umina were closed by a suture. Further, a catheter was inserted into t
he vagina after which the animals were allowed to recover. Tritiated p
rogesterone was infused into vagina the following day during a 2 min p
eriod and simultaneous blood samples collected from the 5 catheters ev
ery 10 min for 2 h after which the animals were sacrificed. Tissue sam
ples were obtained from the genital organs. The results showed a rapid
absorption of progesterone from the vaginal lumen and a marked redist
ribution to the genital organs. The increased level of radioactivity i
n the plasma samples collected from the uterine arteries compared to t
he simultaneous samples from the carotid artery in 2 of the 3 animals
in the luteal phase indicates the existence of a local redistribution
system.