EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE REGULATION OF CORPUS LUTEUM FUNCTION IN CASTRATED MALE RATS BEARING A TRANSPLANTED OVARY

Abstract

The functional activity of artificially induced corpora lutea in isologous ovaries transplanted into castrated male rats has been studied. Criteria for progesterone production were the morphology of vaginal transplants and the distribution of sudanophilic material in the corpus luteum cells. It was found that spontaneous functional activity of the corpora lutea did not occur in short-term experiments. Progesterone production was observed, however, in animals also bearing an isotrans-planted (either male or female) pituitary gland, and in animals which received daily injections of reserpine. It is suggested that the normal influence of the central nervous system on the secretion of luteotrophic hormone is inhibitory in male as well as in female animals. Some aspects of the induction and maintenance of luteal function in castrated male rats bearing a transplanted ovary have been studied and compared with similar phenomena in the female rat. A real pseudopregnancy, i. e. maintained by the pituitary in situ during a defined period, as can be observed in female rats, could not be induced in these animals. In animals also bearing an isografted pituitary gland, luteolysis was not observed in experiments lasting up to 45 days. It is suggested that these findings may be correlated with the way in which the luteinizing hormone is secreted in the male rat.