STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF DECIDUALIZATION: IV

Abstract

Observations were made on the wet weight and the content and concentration of protein, DNA and RNA of the uteri of normal rats during their oestrous cycle and during pseudopregnancy. These studies served as controls to the analysis of synthetic components of the uterus during decidualization induced by systemic means without surgical intervention or trauma of the uterus. Decidualization is characterized by an exponential increase of protein, RNA, DNA content of the uterus. The wet weight of the uterus and the content of protein, DNA and RNA were found to be high during prooestrus and during days 4 and 5 of leucocyte phase of pseudopregnancy. This increase of activity during the 4th and 5th day of pseudopregnancy is consistent with other evidence of oestrogen surge as a pseudopregnancy prerequisite for decidualization.