PARTURITION IN THE GOAT: PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF PROSTAGLANDIN F AND STEROID HORMONES AND UTERINE ACTIVITY DURING LATE PREGNANCY AND PARTURITION

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Abstract
SUMMARY Changes in plasma concentrations of hormones and uterine activity associated with spontaneous parturition in the goat were examined. No change in oestradiol-17β concentration was detected during the experimental period, but oestradiol-17α consistently increased in concentration 3–4 days before parturition. This was followed by an increase in prostaglandin F two days later, while a pre-partum decline in progesterone concentration occurred 18–20 h after the significant increase in prostaglandin F. The onset of uterine contractions coincided with a significant decline in progesterone concentration and a period of continually rising prostaglandin F and oestradiol-17α concentrations. Uterine activity expressed in Montevideo units did not change until 10–8 h before foetal expulsion. These results support the hypothesis that in the goat the elevated prepartum concentration of prostaglandin F brings about luteolysis and a subsequent decline in progesterone concentration.

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