Effect of neostigmine on contractility of equine pre-ovulatory follicles: An in vitro study

- We tested the effect of neostigmine on equine preovulatory follicle contractility.
- We identified the contractility effects of three single doses of neostigmine.
- We showed that neostigmine increases contractility in equine preovulatory follicles.
- We showed that neostigmine at 10−6 M and 10−4 M induced a phasic contraction.
- We showed that neostigmine at 10−5 M induced a tonic contraction.

In this study, the Authors investigated the modulatory effect of three single doses (10−6, 10−5, and 10−4 M) of neostigmine on the spontaneous contractility of equine pre-ovulatory follicles in an isolated organ bath, to establish the relationship between this acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and ovulation, in the mare. The results indicate that neostigmine increases pre-ovulatory contractility in equine follicles at each dose, but in a different manner. Indeed, the rise in contractility induced by neostigmine at 10−6 M and 10−4 M was phasic, while at 10−5 M it was tonic. The data obtained indicate possible implications of these drugs in the pharmacological modulation of equine ovulation.