Abstract:

Spontaneous motility in whole ovarian follicles, as well as in strips from the stroma and capsule of ovaries, isolated from premenopausal and menopausal women, was explored. The pharmacologic contractile reactivity of these ovarian structures to different smooth muscle stimulating agents, ie, prostaglandins E 1, E 2, F 2α; norepinephrine; 5 hydroxytriptamine; acetylcholine; phenylephrine; and phentolamine, was also studied. Strips from the capsule and stroma of isolated ovaries showed spontaneous motility in both menopausal and non menopausal preparations. The addition of phenylephrine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, 5 HT, or PGF 2α induced a sustained tonic contractile tension, whereas PGE 1 elicited the opposite influence. Stromal strips from nonmenopausal women showed more reaction to norepinephrine than those from menopausal ones. Ovarian follicles did not exhibit spontaneous motility but responded to added norepinephrine. This influence was blocked by phentolamine, indicating the eventual participation of alphaadrenergic receptors. Acetylcholine, PGF 2α and, to a smaller extent, PGE 2 also increase follicular resting tension. On the contrary, PGE 1 was clearly inhibitory both upon the spontaneous basal tone and the PGF 2α induced sustained contractions.