Immunoreactive oxytocin and vasopressin in the non-pregnant human uterus and oviductal isthmus.

The regional distribution of immunoreactive OT and AVP in the human uterus was investigated. Specimens of non-pregnant human uterus and oviduct were homogenized and extracted. The tissue levels exceeded the plasma concentrations of the peptides. The largest quantities of both peptides were found in the cervix and oviductal isthmus. The amounts found in the uterine fundus and isthmus were, however, not significantly different. Only 23% of immunoreactive OT eluted in the position of standard peptide on high-performance liquid chromatography. All immunoreactive AVP eluted with standard AVP after additional ether extraction of octadecasilyl extracts. We conclude that the human uterus contains materials immunologically and chromatographically identical to oxytocin and vasopressin.