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OVARIAN FUNCTION IN THE COW AFTER INDUCTION OF UTERINE MOTILITY

The length of the oestrous cycle is reduced in the cow following daily subcutaneous injections of oxytocin during the week after oestrus (Armstrong & Hansel, 1959) but not after hysterectomy (Armstrong & Hansel, 1959; Anderson, Bowerman & Melampy, 1965). Ginther (1967) reported a unilateral luteolytic effect of the uterus in cows given oxytocin, suggesting a local utero-ovarian mechanism.

The uterus of the non-pregnant cow exhibited considerable muscular activity soon after intravenous injection of oxytocin (Simmons, Dracy & Essler, 1965). Uterine contractions became tetanic and began to subside 17 min later. Armstrong & Hansel (1959) have suggested that uterine afferent impulses may influence indirectly the secretion of hypophysial luteotrophin after the injection of oxytocin. It has been shown that electrical stimulation through the rectum can induce oestrous activity in anoestrous cows (Hays & Carlevaro, 1959). In the present study, uterine contractions were induced by electrical stimulation to determine if