Ovarian blood flow in conscious and anaesthetized pregnant rabbits near term and the influence of arterial blood gas tensions.

Total ovarian, luteal and stromal blood flows were measured with radioactive microspheres (25 mum diameter) in 7 rabbits anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone and 23 conscious rabbits at Day 28 of gestation. Despite major differences in cardiac output, arterial PO2, PCO2, pH and base status, ovarian tissue blood flows were similar in both groups. In the conscious rabbits total ovarian blood flow was negatively related to arterial pressure, and luteal blood flow was negatively related to pressure and arterial pH. In the anaesthetized rabbits ovarian stromal blood flow was positively related to arterial PO2.