INFLUENCE OF ADRENALECTOMY IN FEMALE RATS ON REPRODUCTIVE PROCESSES INCLUDING EFFECTS ON THE FOETUS AND OFFSPRING

Abstract

SUMMARY Mating and impregnation were not prevented by adrenalectomy in female rats; they carried their young to term, large litters of viable young were born and lactation was sufficient to maintain the young throughout the usual nursing period. By comparison with sham-operated mother rats, the adrenalectomized mothers gave birth to smaller litters, their pups weighed less and had increased levels of plasma corticosterone. Prenatal and postnatal effects on the offspring were separated by crossfostering procedures. At 21 days of age there was no significant difference among the groups in the number of pups surviving; however, the pups weighed less if the biological or foster mother was adrenalectomized. These differences were less marked in multiparous mothers.