Non-Specificity of Pituitary-Induced Anuran Ovulation in vitro.

Abstract

Ovulation in vitro was induced using homoplastic and heteroplastic pituitary extracts in combination with ovarian tissue of Rana pipiens, R. clamitans, R. catesbiana, R. sylvatica, Pseudacris trilineatus, and Hyla crucifer. Results indicate (1) that the reaction as induced in excised ovarian tissue is truly physiological and normal, and (2) that there is a general lack of specificity of pituitary hormones for this response. Ovulation was induced in vitro in R. pipiens during every month. Non-amphibian pituitary extracts and commercial preparations of mammalian pituitary hormones are generally not effective in this reaction.