Progesterone receptor alpha (PRA) has a central coordinator role in the ovarian functionsin mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunolocalization of PRA in therabbit ovary during pregnancy and after parturition. The rabbit ovary during pregnancy andafter parturition had moderate cytoplasmic and moderate to intense nuclear PRA immunos-taining in the ovarian surface epithelial cells, stromal cells and interstitial gland cells. ThePRA was also present in granulosa cells and theca interna cells of the growing, small antraland mature Graafian follicles. Theca interna cells of the atretic antral follicle in addition toendothelial and fibroblast cells had PRA immunoreactivity. The PRA were also observed inthe theca externa smooth muscle-like cells of the growing and antral follicles and in thetelocytes. In the present study, the corpora haemorrhagica and early developing corporalutea had, slight cytoplasmic and nuclear PRA immunostaining in the large lutein and smalllutein cells. The endothelial cells of the corpora haemorrhagica and corpora lutea had anintense nuclear PRA immune signal. The corpora lutea at an advanced stage of develop-ment had moderate cytoplasmic and nuclear PRA immunostaining in the large lutein cellsand intense nuclear PRA immunostaining in the small lutein cells. The regressed corporalutea did not have PRA immunostaining in the apoptotic large lutein cells and moderatecytoplasmic and intense nuclear PRA immunostaining in the small lutein cells.