ContentsAdrenergic innervation of the ovary is crucial for the corpus luteum (CL) secretory function in many species. Noradrenergic stimulation of the ovary or noradrenaline (NA) treatment causes a prompt increase in progesterone and ovarian oxytocin (OT) secretion during the entire luteal phase. Ths effect is medated via luteal cell 8-recep tors. Their amount correlates with peripheral progesterone concentrations on days 4, 8 and 12 of the oestrous cycle. NA also stimulates progesterone and OT synthesis by activating 38-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (38-HSD) and peptidyl glycine-a-amidating monooxygenase (PGA), respectively, withn the luteal cell. On the other hand, ovarian denervation in the rat and ewe causes many morphe logical and functional changes, i.e. a decrease of luteal steroidogenic activity, an increase in the number of B-receptors on luteal cells, disruption of cyclicity, delay of follicular development, etc. Furthermore, a brief blockade of ovarian 8-receptors in mid cycle in cattle decreases progesterone secretion by up to 40%. It was also dmovered that NA can be synthesised within the CL from dopamine @A) and moreover, NA does appear to activate tyrosine hydroxylase converting tyrosine to DOPA, which is transformed further to dopamine. It is suggested that (1) constant 8-stimulation of the CL ensures basal secretion of progesterone, whereas short-term noradrenergtc system activation prevents and even supports CL function; (2) activation of the noradrenergic system and its concomitant influence on ovarian and peripheral vasculature, lipolysis and luteal cell enzyme activity causes a prompt response of the CL to brief stressful situations which could impair its function and (3) NA affects its own synthesis within the CL. Ovarian innervationThe extrinsic autonomic nerves reach the ovary via the nerve in the suspensory ligament (superior ovarian nerve) innervating predominantly the endocrine component, and the ovarian plexus which innervates mamly the ovarian vasculature (Lawrence and Burden 1980). Ovarian NA content which reflects ovarian innervation increased in rats (Ben-Jonatan et al. 1984) during sexual maturation and declines during agmg (Ferrante et a]. 1990). NA and DA, which is a NA precursor, were found in bovine CL and ovarian stroma, and DA concentrations were much hgher in the early luteal phase than during the rest of the cycle or pregnancy penning- Kendall et al. 1991). In addition, follicular differentiation in newborn rats depends on direct neurogenic influence when ovaries are insensitive to gonadotrophins (Malamed et a]. 1992). The increase in ovarian NA and DA content in cyclic rats with lesions in the amygdaloid complex suggests that the amygdaloid catecholaminergtc system exerts an inhibitory ef€ect on ovarian catecholamines (Leret et al. 1992). Likewise, in rats with posterior hypothalamic lesions inflicted on the day of birth, NA Concentrations at puberty were markedly higher than in intact controls (Ivanisevic-Mdovanovic et al. 1993). Thus, the peripheral noradrenergic s...