Ovarian peptides: role of luteal oxytocin in the control of estrous cyclicity in ruminants.

The peptide hormone oxytocin has long been known to affect the life-span of the corpus luteum on administration. There is now a good deal of evidence to suggest that endogenous oxytocin may also be involved in this process, probably through a stimulatory action on uterine prostaglandin synthesis. Recently the role of oxytocin in controlling estrous cyclicity has been given added prominence by the discovery that oxytocin is secreted by the ruminant corpus luteum. This paper reviews current ideas in this area, and deals particularly with the mechanism of action of oxytocin.