THE EFFECTS OF INJECTING ANTERIOR HYPOPHYSIAL FLUID ON THE COURSE OF GESTATION IN THE RAT

Abstract

Female rats were bred and injected daily throughout gestation with an extract of bovine anterior pituitary. The treatment resulted in delay of 2-6 days in implantation with a corresponding lengthening of gestation; death of the fetuses in utero at term; production and persistence of abnormal lutein tissue in the maternal ovaries; increase of approximately 15% in weight of the term fetuses; death of fetuses at term due to failure of the birth mechanism of the mother. The last may perhaps be associated with presence of abnormal lutein tissue.