Prostaglandins

Authors: Berwyn-Jones MD
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 22, Issue 11, pp 223-224, Nov 1974
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock
Subject Terms: Endocrine/autocrine/paracrine, Reproduction, Reproduction - female, Reproduction - hormones
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Dr Lamond should bear in mind that Berwyn-Jones and Irvine (1974) were only reporting field trials and quoting briefly from literature extant at the time of their conclusion (March, 1974) to help put the results in perspective. The “bald” statement about PGF_2α that upset him was qualified in the same sentence by the phrase “although it is not yet known how it achieves its effect”. The introductory sentence in such a report would scarcely be expected to review critically or in detail the evidence on the mode of action of prostaglandins. However, our comments agree with the conclusions of Goding (1974) and of McCracken et al (1972), that PGF_2α is the uterine luteolysin the ewe. It has also been established that exogenous PGF_2α can induce luteolysis in the rat (Pharriss and Wyngarden, 1969), the cow (Rowson et al 1972), and the mare (Douglas and Ginther, 1972). All workers in the field realize that the physiological role of prostaglandins is extremely complicated, and that there are deficiencies in the knowledge…

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