Cochran,. 1967). These results were used to evaluate the relationships between reproductive state. (nonpreg- ..... M. T., Thomas,. C. L and Lees, M. H. (1975).
BIOLOGY
OF
REPRODUCTION
17,
Vascular Female
148-1
53 (1977)
Ovarian W.
in the of
Dynamics of the Reproductive Tract Rhesus Monkey: Relative Contributions and
B. WEHRENBERG2,
D.
J.
H.
Uterine
P. CHAICHAREON2’3,
RANKIN
and
Regional
Primate
Wisconsin
Arteries’
0.
Research
Department of Veterinary Department of Gynecology and Physiology
J. DIERSCHKE,
D.
J. GINTHER Center,
Science, Obstetrics,
and
Department,
University Madison,
of Wisconsin, Wisconsin 53706 ABSTRACT
The
not
anatomical
provide
descriptions
quantitative
of
the
information
vasculature
about
of
the
uterus
the relative
and
ovaries
contributions
in rhesus
monkeys
of the ovarian
do
and uterine
arteries to the blood supply of the reproductive tract. To identify the major source of arterial blood supply to these organs under varying reproductive conditions, monkeys were studied during nonpregnant (n = 7), early pregnant (Days 13-18, n = 6), and late pregnant (Days 149-154, n = 4) states. Microspheres, labelled with different isotopes, were injected simultaneously into the left ventricle and the aorta midway between the origin of the ovarian artery and the terminal bifurcation of the aorta. The resulting ratio of microspheres in various organs or segments of the reproductive tract was indicative of the source of arterial blood. There was no significant difference in the source of arterial blood between nonpregnant and early pregnant monkeys; under both circumstances the uterine artery supplied 91 to 100 percent of the arterial blood reaching all segments of the reproductive tract. However, during late pregnancy, blood supply via the uterine artery to the ovaries and oviducts decreased (P1 ng/mI). The remaining 4 animals did not possess an active CL (plasma progesterone levels
