PHYSIOLOGY OF THE CORPUS LUTEUM

Abstract

In the presence of progesta-tional proliferation induced by corpus luteum extracts, in rabbits deprived of both ovaries at the 18th hour of pregnancy, the embryos may survive and grow normally and normal implantation may occur, whereas in the absence of progestational proliferation the embryos never survive beyond the 4th day. The evidence is now complete that in the rabbit the corpus luteum is an organ of internal secretion which has for one of its functions the production of a special state of the uterine mucosa (progestational proliferation) and that in turn the function of the proliferated endometrium is to nourish or protect the free blastocysts and to make possible their implantation.