THE PO2, PCO2, pH AND OXYGEN CONTENT OF OVARIAN VENOUS BLOOD OF SHEEP

Abstract

SUMMARY The PO2, PCO2, pH and oxygen content were measured in blood from the carotid artery, and jugular and ovarian veins of six sheep with cervical ovarian autotransplants. The PO2 in ovarian venous blood (56·0 ± 3·9 (s.e.m.) mmHg) was lower than that in carotid arterial blood (94·3 ± 8·3) but higher than that in jugular venous blood (43·4 ± 3·1). The oxygen content of ovarian venous blood was significantly higher than that of jugular venous blood. The high PO2 and oxygen content in ovarian venous relative to jugular venous blood together with the high blood flow suggests the possibility of arterio-venous shunts within the ovary or its vascular pedicle.