Origin of Ovarian Cyst Fluid: Studies on Experimentally Induced Cysts in the Rat

Abstract

Injection of pregnant mares' serum or human chorionic gonadotrophin into the thiouracil-fed rat induced the development of large ovarian follicular cysts. Goitrogen feeding increased the total protein and gamma globulin content of both serum and cystic fluid. Total protein-bound carbohydrate and the protein :polysaccharide ratios of the fractions of serum and cyst fluid were also equal. When animals were allowed to recover from the effects of goitrogen feeding, total proteins and gamma globulin decreased. The albumin fractions increased significantly, as evidenced by the markedly increased albumin: globulin ratios. Although uptake of ³⁵S from DL-methionine or 14C-DL-leucine was more rapid in serum, parallel accumulation was observed for cyst fluid after an 8-hr lag, with equilibration by 24 hr. During the period of equilibration there was no loss in activity. Once it reached its peak, cyst fluid specific activity was maintained for 120 hr regardless of which gonadotrophin was used. Furthermore, rat serum labeled in vitro with ⁵¹Cr entered the follicle when injected intracardially. By 4 hr the total cyst fluid protein and electrophoretically separated protein fractions had the same specific activity as the total protein and similar protein fractions of circulating serum. (Endocrinology75: 733, 1964)