I.—On the Pregnancy Rate in the Lactating Mouse and the Effect of Suckling on the Duration of Pregnancy

Abstract

1. The pregnancy rate of primiparæ, suckling their young, was, in this experiment, 24·1 per cent.; that of multiparæ suckling their young, 50 per cent. It is shown that this difference is not due to differences in the incidence of ovulation associated with postpartum œstrus. The suggested explanation of this difference between puberal and adult groups is that a certain level of somatic maturity is a prerequisite for full reproductive activity.2. In all cases the duration of pregnancy was prolonged. The degree of prolongation was variable and could not be related to the number of young in the uterus or suckling. The results provide no support for the suggestion that this prolongation, due to delayed implantation of the fertilised ova, is to be referred to an inhibitory action on the part of the mammary gland. The suggestion is made that the delayed implantation and prolonged pregnancy are due to inability on the part of the corpus luteum to cater adequately for implantation and lactation synchronously.