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Description
Progesterone as a contractile inhibiting agent of the uterus of some animals during pregnancy examined. Effect of hormones such as Relaxin also examined.
Progesterone as a contractile inhibiting agent of the uterus of some animals during pregnancy examined. Effect of hormones such as Relaxin also examined.
| Module code and title: | S321, Physiology of cells and organisms |
|---|---|
| Item code: | S321; 11 |
| First transmission date: | 21-07-1974 |
| Published: | 1974 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Roger Jones |
| Contributors: | Vic Daniels; David Porter |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Embryo; Muscle contracting; Rabbit pregnancy; Relaxin; Uterus |
| Footage description: | Shots of a pregnant rabbit about to give birth. She is building her nest, Vic Daniels introduces the programme. He explains the action of progesterone in blocking uterine contractility. Shots of the dissected uterus of a pregnant rabbit in a quiescent state. Shots of a dissected rabbit uterus close to term. Strong contractile motion can be seen. Shots of rabbit young being ejected from the vagina with great force. Vic Daniels describes Chapo's 1955 experiment which demonstrated the action of progesterone on the myometrium. Daniels uses graphics to amplify his discussion. The experiment was performed on uterine tissue of rabbits. Vic Daniels examines the effect of progesterone on the contractile activity of a non-pregnant rabbit. He uses a prepared pen recording to amplify his discussion. The graph shows activity before injection of progesterone and at intervals of 4, 12, 27 and 45 hours after. Vic Daniels postulates the idea of progesterone as a universal inhibiting agent for uterine contractile activity and then explains the problems this idea encountered. He introduces David Porter. David Porter describes a series of experiments performed with guinea pigs which tested the effect of progesterone on myometrial activity and proved that progesterone is not a universal inhibiting agent. Cross section diagram of a guinea pig uterus. Commentary by Porter explains the various ways in which progesterone was applied. David Porter with a dissected non-pregnant female guinea pig. The reproductive tract is exposed. Potter explains and demonstrates the method used to record intra-uterine pressure. Pressure changes are monitored on a pen recorder graph. Potter examines the effect of progesterone on non-pregnant guinea pigs. He uses a prepared pen recording which shows activity before injection and at intervals of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 and 18 hours after injection. He tentatively concludes that progesterone has no effect on guinea pig myometrial activity. Potter discusses the effect of the experiments themselves in distorting the data. He explains the methods used to overcome this problem. Potter shows pen recordings of these experiments which indicate that the original experiments and their results were valid. Potter next asks the question 'How does the guinea pig regulate its myometrial activity if not through use of progesterone?' He then describes the experiments which were performed to find out. Several pen recorded graphs are shown. Potter describes the cross circulation technique which was used to determine if hormonal activity regulated the myometial activity of the guinea pig. Graphics are used to illustrate his discussion. Potter shows the results on a pen recording which records the uterine pressure changes and analyses them on another graph. Potter speculates on the possible substance responsible for inhibition of uterine activity in guinea pigs (and possibly humans). He proposes Relaxin or a similar substance. Potter describes an experiment on guinea pigs injected with Relaxin. He gives the results which are shown on a graph. Relaxin does affect the myometrial activity of guinea pigs. Potter sums up. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71489 |
| Production number: | 00525_1115 |
| Videofinder number: | 1829 |
| Available to public: | no |
