Redistribution of blood flow by prostaglandin F2α in the rabbit ovary

Radioactive microspheres were used to measure ovarian and regional blood flow in unanesthetized estrous and pseudopregnant rabbits. Ovarian blood flow was 5 times higher on Day 9 of pseudopregnancy (9.4 ml. per gram per minute) than before ovulation (1.7 ml. per gram per minute). The corpora lutea received more than 80 per cent of the total ovarian blood flow and accounted for the postovulatory hyperemia. Intravenous injection of prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) caused a significant redistribution of ovarian blood flow; corpus luteum blood flow decreased while blood flow to the interstitial and follicular tissue increased. Our results suggest that prostaglandins play a role in regulating the ovarian microcirulation and that PGF 2α constricts the afferent blood vessels of the corpus luteum or small arteriovenous anastomoses.