STIMULATION OF FALLOPIAN TUBES BY PROSTAGLANDIN F2α, BIOGENIC AMINES AND PEPTIDES

It is known that the musculature of the fallopian tube is hyperactive during ovulation but the mechanism for this activity is as yet unknown. A humoral rather than a nervous regulation of tubal motility is suspected. Clinical research was conducted to determine the reason for tubal motility. Tubal response to PG (prostaglandin) F2alpha biogenic amines and peptides was tested. PGF2alpha is the PG with highest stimulating activity on the fallopian tube. There were great quantitative differences in responses to the various stimulants. Certain of the biogenic peptides and amines e.g. acetylcholine histamine and eledoisin were even more active than PGF2alpha. Response of tubes from young and older women was similar. Corresponding experiments on isolated tubes from guinea pigs rats rabbits cats pigs and sheep revealed great species differences. Only the rabbit tube responded in a manner similar qualitatively and quantitatively to the human fallopian tube. It is suggested as a result of these experiments that tachykinin peptides and PGF2alpha play a physiological role for humoral activation of the tube during ovulation.