THE EFFECT OF NEUROHYPOPHYSIAL HORMONES ON THE AMPHIBIAN OVIDUCT IN VITRO, WITH SOME REMARKS ON THE HISTOLOGY OF THIS ORGAN

Abstract

SUMMARY The effect of neurohypophysial hormones has been tested in vitro on oviducts of four species of urodele and three species of anuran Amphibia. Contractile responses were obtained with all the hormones used but 8-arginine oxytocin (vasotocin) was usually most potent. The sensitivity of the oviducts varied widely from species to species; there were also pronounced seasonal differences within a species. Histological investigations yielded some information on the abundance and arrangement of muscle fibres in amphibian oviducts. A simple and sensitive (magnification up to × 1000) recording system for isotonic contractions is described.