Specific Bindings for Arginine Vasotocin in Five Major Regions of the Oviduct of Laying Chickens (Gallus domesticus )

Abstract

The present study investigated whether specific binding for arginine vasotocin (AVT)is found in the oviduct infundibulum, magnum and isthmus of laying chickens and todetermine the degree of binding in those tissues compared with that in the oviduct uterus(shell gland) myometrium and vagina. Using radio ligand binding assay by 125I labeled AVT,specific bindings to AVT were found in the cell membrane fraction of all five major regionsin the oviduct of laying chickens. Degree of specific bindings for AVT was lower in theinfundibulum, magnum and isthmus than in the uterus, but not significantly different fromthat in the vagina. These findings suggest a possibility of the presence of AVT receptor inthe oviduct infundibulum, magnum and isthmus as well as in the uterus and vagina of layingchickens.