DISTURBANCES IN REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS CAUSED BY HYPOTHALAMIC LESIONS IN FEMALE GUINEA PIGS

Abstract

In [female] guinea pigs lesions in the hypothalamus between the optic chiasma and the attachment of the infundibular stalk caused sterility and disturbances in reproductive functions on the basis of which the animals could be classified into 4 groups Animals with vagina continuously open and with enlarged uteri and follicular ovaries without corpora lutea. These failed with one exception to show estrus behavior. Animals with vagina continuously closed, atrophic uteri and small ovaries, showing an absence of large follicles and of corpora lutea. These all failed to show estrus behavior. Animals in which the vagina opened and closed in cycles of normal length and in which the ovaries had normally well developed follicles and corpora lutea. These with one exception failed to show estrus behavior. Animals in which the vaginal membrane opened and closed at irregular intervals. Some of these animals resembled those of the 1st group and others resembled those of the 2d group.