Brief freezing of the ovarian vascular pedicle in rats reduced ovarian noradrenaline concentration, measured with HPLC, by 67% (P less than 0.01). Freezing of the ovarian suspensory ligament caused a 22% reduction (P less than 0.01) and 33% reduction (P less than 0.05) in 2 experiments. The numbers of adrenergic nerve terminals detected by fluorescence microscopy after these procedures were similarly reduced (P less than 0.01). Freezing of both the pedicle and the ligament produced complete sympathetic denervation in about 50% of the ovaries. From Days 2 to 10 after operation no noradrenaline or nerve terminals were detected in 14 out of 27 ovaries. Nerve terminals were also eliminated from the oviduct. Reinnervation of the ovary began between Days 12 and 30. It is concluded that the adrenergic innervation of the ovary is predominantly through nerves that accompany the vascular supply to the ovary and the ovarian suspensory ligament. Freezing of these routes is a simple and relatively atraumatic means of denervating the ovary for experimental studies.

Summary. The ovaries of cyclic female rats were unilaterally or bilaterally denervated or sham-operated. Denervation was achieved by freezing the ovarian vascular pedicle and suspensory ligament about 1 cm from the ovary; this technique renders the ovary devoid of innervation for up to 10 days. Denervated ovaries from 6 unilaterally and 7 bilaterally operated animals exhibited normal ovulation rates (5\m=.\8\ m=+-\1\m=.\0and 5\m=.\2\ m=+-\1\ m=. \ 2 respectively, mean \m=+-\ s.e.m.) compared with intact (5\m=.\6 \m=+-\ 0\m=.\4) and sham-operated controls (4\m=.\4 \m=+-\ 0\m=.\6unilaterally sham-operated; 4\m=.\1\ m=+-\ 0\m=.\8 bilaterally sham-operated). It is concluded that the mechanism of follicular rupture is unaffected by the absence of ovarian sympathetic innervation.

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