In vitro contractile response of the uterus in the pregnant rat to oxytocin increases with advancing gestation. This increase coincides with an increase in uterine oxytocin receptor number. However, in vitro the change in uterine contractile response of the pregnant uterus to oxytocin with advancing gestation is not clear. The purpose of the present study was to find out that the uterine response in vitro to oxytocin changes as delivery a, pp.oaches. Secondly, to determine if the incubation of uterine tissue in vitro altered the uterine oxytocin receptor number and affinity and thus explain the ambiguity between the in vitro and in vitro results. The studies were performed on rats at days 15, 20 and 21 or pregnancy. In vitro the uterine contractile response to oxytocin was sgreater (P<0.05) at day 21 compared to days 15 and 20 (Emax : 724.8　88.9, 130.0　81.5 and 133.4　53.4, respectively). This correlated with a significant increase (P<0.05) in uterine oxytocin receptor number at day 21 (days 21, 15 and 20 : 540　89, 53　24, 89　35 fmoles/mg protein, respectively). However, the kids at days 15, 20 and 21 did not differ (P>0.05). Finally no difference (P>0.05) in oxytocin receptor number or affinity was detected between incubated and non-incubated tissue. The results of these studies suggest that either pre-oxytocin or post-oxytocin receptor factors are important in determining the uterine myometrial responsiveness to oxytocin.