Artificial vagino-cervical stimulation modifies the frequency of uterine contractions during the estrous cycle of the female rat

AA Carrasco-García, MA Camacho, P Pacheco, P Carrillo, GA Coria-Avila, P Paredes-Ramos

Resumen


Las contracciones uterinas (CU) pueden participar en importantes procesos reproductivos, como el transporte de espermatozoides y el parto. La evidencia indica que las CU pueden ser inducidas por hormonas y estimulación vaginocervical (EVC) a través de vías neuroendocrinas, incluida la actividad de las glándulas pituitaria y ovarios. Evaluamos la frecuencia de CU después de la EVC en diferentes fases del ciclo estral (CE) en ratas hembras adultas. Treinta y seis ratas hembras fueron anestesiadas, y sus cuernos uterinos fueron expuestos a través de una incisión abdominal. La EVC incluyó intromisiones vaginocervicales (IVC) y distensión vaginal mediante la inserción de un tapón de silicón para imitar los efectos del tapón posteyaculatorio. El número de CU se midió: 1) antes y después de las IVC, 2) durante la distensión vaginal por el tapón de silicón, y después de que se retiró. Comparamos el efecto de la EVC en la cantidad de CU durante las diferentes etapas de la CE de ratas. Los resultados indicaron que la frecuencia de la CU basal fue mayor durante el proestro tardío y menor durante el diestro. Además, las intromisiones dieron como resultado una mayor actividad uterina. La EVC aumentó el número de contracciones durante todas las fases de la CE, excepto durante el diestro. Discutimos el papel de las hormonas y la estimulación sexual en la CU, y su posible implicación en los procesos reproductivos de las hembras.


Abstract: Uterine contractions (UC) can participate in important reproductive processes such as sperm transport and parturition. Evidence indicates that UC can be induced by hormones and vaginocervical-stimulation (VCS) via neuroendocrine pathways, including the activity of the pituitary and reproductive glands. The frequency of UC was evaluated after VCS at different phases of the estrous cycle (EC) in adult female rats. Thirty-six female rats were anesthetized, and the uterine horns were exposed via abdominal incision. VCS included vaginocervical intromissions (VCI) and vaginal distention via insertion of a silicon plug to mimic the effects of the post-ejaculatory sperm plug. The number of UC was measured 1) before and after VCI, 2) during the vaginal distention by the silicon plug and after it was removed. The effect of VCS on the amount of UC during different stages of the rat EC was compared. Results indicated that the frequency of baseline UC was higher during late-proestrus and lower during diestrus. In addition, intromissions resulted in higher uterine activity. Interestingly, VCS increased the number of contractions during all phases of the EC, except during diestrus. The role of hormones and sexual stimulation on UC, and the potential implication in reproductive processes in females are discussed.

Keywords: Vaginocervical stimulation; uterine contractions; estrous cycle; female rat.


Palabras clave


Estimulación vaginocervical; contracciones uterinas; ciclo estral; rata hembra.

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Referencias


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.25009/eb.v10i25.2566

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