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The Effect of Two Different Routes of Administration of Oxytocin on Peripheral Plasma Prostaglandin F 2α Metabolite Levels in Early Post‐partum Dairy Cows
Author(s) -
Bajcsy ÁCs,
Kindahl H,
Szenci O,
van der Weijden GC,
Bartyik J,
Taverne MAM
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2011.01830.x
Subject(s) - oxytocin , metabolite , post partum , prostaglandin f , prostaglandin , peripheral , plasma concentration , endocrinology , chemistry , zoology , medicine , biology , pregnancy , genetics
Contents Various parenteral treatment forms of oxytocin, as often used under praxis circumstances, may act differently on contractility of the uterus during the first days of the puerperium. Various patterns of such induced uterotonic responses may lead to alterations in the emptying characteristics of the uterine lumen, thus influencing, as a late consequence, the process of involution. Therefore, this study was designed to test whether two different parenteral administration forms of oxytocin induce changes in peripheral plasma concentrations of 15‐ketodihydro‐prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α metabolite) in early post‐partum cows. Between 13 and 15 h after uncomplicated calving, healthy dairy cows without retained foetal membranes were treated with 50 IU oxytocin, either intramuscularly (OT‐IM group; n = 15) or intravenously (OT‐IV group; n = 16). Saline solution was administered intramuscularly as controls (CON group; n = 15). Jugular blood samples were taken at 10‐min intervals from 1 h before to 2 h after treatment. Plasma PGF 2α metabolite levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. No significant differences in peripheral plasma PGF 2α metabolite concentrations occurred in the OT‐IM and CON groups, but mean values significantly increased in the OT‐IV group, peaking at 20 min after treatment and reaching pre‐treatment baseline values again at 120 min. Although the source of prostaglandins was not investigated in this study, our results suggest that exogenous oxytocin may enhance secretion of prostaglandins by the uterus during the first day after normal calving. These prostaglandins might contribute, by an endocrine or paracrine route, to the stimulation of myometrial contractility when exogenous oxytocin is given during this early post‐partum stage.