LENGTH OF MAINTENANCE OF NATURALLY FORMED AND EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED CORPORA LUTEA IN HYSTERECTOMIZED EWES

Abstract

Hysterectomy in ewes 3 to 6 days post-estrus resulted in prolonged corpora lutea maintenance; luteal regression, however, had occurred by about 150 days post-estrus. Hysterectomized ewes reovulated after luteal regression and maintained the resulting corpora lutea for a similar period of time. Corpora lutea induced with exogenous gonadotropins after hysterectomy regressed asynchronously with naturally formed corpora lutea present at the time of the induced ovulation, and the significance of this is discussed. Hysterectomy during anestrus resulted in ovulation without estrus and maintenance of subsequent corpora lutea.