Local Steroid Concentrating Mechanism in the Reproductive Vasculature of the Ewe1

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Abstract
A local counter current exchange mechanism for progesterone was demonstrated between the uteroovarian vein and the ipsilateral ovarian artery in nonpregnant and pregnant ewes. [3H]-progesterone ([3H]-P; 55.7 Ci/mmol) was infused into the uterine vein (1.3 µCi/min, 7.5 ng/min) and simultaneous measurements of the amount of [3H]-P in plasma from the ovarian artery and a mesenteric artery of similar size were made. In both pregnant and nonpregnant ewes, infusion of [3H]-P into the uterine vein significantly increased (P0.10). Pregnant ewes had consistently lower levels of [3H]-P in ovarian arterial plasma when compared with nonpregnant ewes.