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Cited by 136Reproductive Biology and FertilityEstrogen and related hormone effectsReproductive Physiology in Livestock

Uterine peristalsis during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle: effects of oestrogen, antioestrogen and oxytocin

Kunz, G·1998·Human Reproduction Update
DOI 10.1093/humupd/4.5.647
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Abstract

Uterine peristalsis, directing sustained and rapid sperm transport from the external cervical os or the cervical crypts to the isthmic part of the tube ipsilateral to the dominant follicle, changes in direction and frequency during the menstrual cycle, with lowest activity during menstruation and highest activity at mid cycle. It was therefore suggested that uterine peristalsis is under the control of the dominant follicle with the additional involvement of oxytocin. To test this hypothesis, vaginal sonography of uterine peristalsis was performed in the early, mid and late proliferative phases, respectively, of cycles of women treated with oestradiol valerate and with human menopausal gonadotrophin following pituitary downregulation, with clomiphene citrate and with intravenous oxytocin, respectively. Administration of oestradiol valerate resulted in oestradiol serum concentrations comparable with the normal cycle with a simulation of the normal frequency of peristaltic contractions. Elevated oestradiol concentrations and bolus injections of oxytocin resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of peristaltic contractions in the early and mid follicular phases, respectively. Chlomiphene tended, though insignificantly so, to suppress the frequency of peristaltic waves in the presence of elevated oestradiol concentrations. In the late follicular phase of the cycle extremely elevated oestradiol concentrations as well as the injection of oxytocin resulted only in an insignificant further increase of peristaltic frequency. In the normal cycles, as well as during extremely elevated oestradiol concentrations and following oxytocin administration, the peristaltic contractions were always confined to the subendometrial layer of the muscular wall. The results and the review of literature indicate that uterine peristalsis during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is controlled by oestradiol released from the dominant follicle with the probable involvement of oxytocin, which is presumably stimulated together with its receptor within the endometrial-subendometrial unit and therefore acting in an autocrine/paracrine fashion. Since unphysiological stimulation with oestradiol and oxytocin did not significantly increase the frequency of uterine peristalsis in the late follicular phase of the cycle it is assumed that normal preovulatory frequency of uterine peristalsis is at a level which cannot be significantly surpassed due to phenomena of refractoriness of the system.

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Crossref · 10.1093/humupd/4.5.647

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  • Intensity of uterine peristaltic activity in women with endometriosis resembles that of women during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation although peripheral estradiol levels are within normal range.

    “The intensity of uterine peristaltic activity in women with endometriosis resembles that of women during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation although the peripheral estradiol levels are within the normal range [4, 29, 44].”

    From The pathophysiology of endometriosis and adenomyosis, tissue injury and repair (2009) · cites this paper as [44]

  • Focal estrogen production might reach a tissue level that, in a paracrine fashion, acts upon the archimyometrium and increases uterine peristaltic activity, presumably mediated by endometrial oxytocin and its receptor.

    “Focal estrogen production might reach a tissue level that, in a paracrine fashion, acts upon the archimyometrium and increases uterine peristaltic activity presumably mediated by endometrial oxytocin and its receptor [44, 68, 69].”

    From The pathophysiology of endometriosis and adenomyosis, tissue injury and repair (2009) · cites this paper as [44]

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Authors
Kunz, G.
Affiliations
Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
Corresponding author
Kunz, G
ORCID
Kunz, G
Venue
Human Reproduction Update
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1998-09-01
Volume
4
Issue
5
Pages
647-654
ISSN
  • 1355-4786 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2369
DOI
10.1093/humupd/4.5.647
OpenAlex
W2105768051
Cited by
136
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
FWCI
3.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Human Reproduction Update (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
Keywords
uterine peristalsis, follicular phase, menstrual cycle, estradiol, oxytocin, clomiphene citrate, antiestrogens, sperm transport, dominant follicle, endometrium, autocrine and paracrine regulation, refractoriness, estradiol valerate, human menopausal gonadotropin, pituitary down-regulation, preovulatory phase
MeSH terms
Adult, Clomiphene, Embryo Transfer, Endometrium, Estradiol, Estrogen Antagonists, Female, Follicular Phase, Humans, Middle Aged, Muscle Contraction, Muscle, Smooth, Ovary, Oxytocin, Ultrasonography, Uterus, Vagina, Triptorelin Pamoate

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