Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radioimmunoassay of plasma and pituitary oxytocin in pregnant rats during various stages of pregnancy and parturition

  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Radioimmunoassayable plasma and pituitary oxytocin (ROT) was measured during pregnancy and parturition. The highest mean plasma ROT level was seen in maternal rats on day 20 of pregnancy followed by a non significant decrease on day 21 reaching the basal level just before delivery. Plasma ROT level declined continuously up to the time of delivery of the first pup and then gradually increased until the completion of parturition. The highest maternal mean pituitary ROT level was found on day 21 pregnancy. Just before delivery of the first pup, the mean pituitary ROT level significantly declined by 22%. Pituitary ROT level declined steadily during the delivery of the first five pups. This pattern of reduction was reversed and ROT levels increased between the delivery of the fifth pup and the completion of labor. The increase of maternal pituitary and plasma ROT levels during delivery of the pups suggest that maternal ROT may play a role in normal parturition. Fetal hypothalamic-pituitary ROT does not seem to play any part in parturition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kumaresan P. The effect of oxytocin on the litter size in rats. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 118: 68, 1974.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kumaresan P., Anandarangam P.B., Dianzon W., Vasicka A. Plasma oxytocin levels during human pregnancy and labor as determined by radioimmunoassay. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 119: 215, 1974.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Vasicka A., Kumaresan P., Han G.S., Kumaresan M. Plasma oxytocin in initiation of labor. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 130: 263, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kumaresan P., Vasicka A., Kumaresan M., Subramanian M., Han G.S. Use of isotopes for measurement of human, cow and rat plasma oxytocin. International Symposium on Radioimmunoassay and Related Procedures in Medicine, Berlin, Oct. 31–Nov. 4, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fuchs A.R., Saito S. Pituitary oxytocin and vasopress in content of pregnant rats before, during and after parturition. Endocrinology 88: 574, 1971.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Illingworth D.V., Challis J.R.G., Ackland N., Burton A.M., Heap R.B., Perry J.S. Parturition in the guinea pig: Plasma levels of steroid hormones, steroid binding proteins, and oxytocin, and the effect of corticosteroids, prostaglandins and andrenocorticotrophin. J. Endocrinol. Metab. 63: 557, 1974.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Duncan D.B. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11: 1, 1955.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Burton A.M., Illingworth D.V., Challis J.R.G., McNeilly S.S. Placental transfer of oxytocin in the guinea pig and its release during parturition. J. Endocrinol. Metab. 60: 499, 1974.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Legros J.J., Franchimont P. Human neurophysins blood level under normal, experimental and pathological conditions. Clin. Endocrinol. 1: 99, 1972.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Seif S.M., Huellmantel A.B., Platia M.A., Haluszczak C., Robinson, A.C. Isolation, radioimmunoassay and physiological secretion of rat neurophysins. Endocrinology 100: 1317, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kumaresan P. Discussion of Session on Neurophysins. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 248: 255, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Roberts J.S., Share L. Inhibition by progesterone of oxytocin secretion during vaginal stimulation. Endocrinology 87: 812, 1970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Csapo A.I., Wiest W.G. An examination of the quantitative relationship between progesterone and the maintenance of pregnancy. Endocrinology 85: 735, 1969.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Turnbull A.C., Flint A.P.F., Jeremy J.Y., Patten P.T., Keirse M.J.N.C., Anderson A.B.M. Significant fall in progesterone and rise in estradiol levels in human peripheral plasma before onset of labor. Lancet, 1: 101, 1974.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Soloff M.S., Schroeder B.T., Chakraborty J., Pearlmutter A.F. Characterization of oxytocin receptors in the uterus and mammary gland. Fed. Proc. 36: 1861, 1977.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. West T.C., Janda J. Transmembrane potentials and contractility in the pregnant rat uterus. Am. J. Physiol. 787: 333, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Brooks C.M., Ishikawa T., Koizumi K., Lu H.H. Activity of neurones in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and its control. J. Physiol. 182: 217, 1966.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Fuchs A.R. In: Klopper, A., Gardner, J. (Eds.), Endocrine factors in labor. Cambridge Univ. Press, New York 1973, p. 174.

  19. Jost A. In: Comline R.S., Cross K.W., Dawes G.S., Nathanielsz P.W. (Eds.), Fetal and neonatal physiology. Cambridge Univ. Press, New York, 1973, p. 589.

  20. Kumaresan P., Kagan A., Glick S.M. Oxytocin antibody and lactation and parturition in rats. Nature 230: 468, 1971.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State University of New York School of Medicine Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    P. Kumaresan, M. Subramanian, P. B. Anandarangam & M. Kumaresan

  2. Hormonal Laboratory of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, 11235, USA

    P. Kumaresan, M. Subramanian, P. B. Anandarangam & M. Kumaresan

Authors
  1. P. Kumaresan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Subramanian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. B. Anandarangam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Kumaresan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor C.W. Turner, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri in recognition of his contribution to the basic endocrine research in animals.

This work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development US PHS HD 04984-03 and in part by the Population Council of New York.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumaresan, P., Subramanian, M., Anandarangam, P.B. et al. Radioimmunoassay of plasma and pituitary oxytocin in pregnant rats during various stages of pregnancy and parturition. J Endocrinol Invest 2, 65–70 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349277

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349277

Key-words

Search

Navigation