Abstract
This study determined whether uterine tissue of alligators produce prostaglandins F~2α~ (PGF) and E~2~ (PGE) and examined the relationship between secretion of prostaglandins and reproductive stage. Uterine tissue from alligators (n = 8) was incubated in the presence of arachidonic acid (AA), banamine (B), arginine vasotocin (AVT), AA + AVT or incubation medium alone. Aliquots of the culture medium were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min and at 24 h of culture. Secretion of PGF was not detected from uterine tissue collected from gravid alligators, whereas non‐gravid and post‐oviposition alligators secreted appreciable amounts of PGF. The addition of AA to uterine tissue from non‐gravid alligators increased secretion of PGF (P < 0.05), whereas AVT had no effect. Addition of AA or AVT decreased secretion of PGF and PGE by uterine tissue from post‐oviposition alligators (P < 0.05). Secretion of PGF and PGE by uterine tissue was greater from post‐oviposition than from non‐gravid and gravid alligators. Secretion of PGE from uterine tissue of non‐gravid alligators was not altered by AA or AVT. However, secretion of PGE from uterine tissue from gravid alligators increased in the presence of AVT and decreased when incubated with AA + AVT. Arachidonic acid alone did not significantly alter secretion of PGE in this group. This study demonstrated that uteri of alligators secrete PGF and PGE and production is related to reproductive status. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.