Biochemical and Morphological Changes Following Artificially Stimulated Decidualization in the Mouse Uterus

Abstract

In a study of endocrine changes during reproductive development in rams, single plasma samples were collected at birth; then 4 samples, 30 min apart, were collected each 2 weeks from 2-32 weeks of age. Eight Romney rams from a group of 32 were selected at random for each bleeding and plasma LH, testosterone and prolactin levels were estimated by specific radioimmunoassays. Plasma LH levels rose to a peak at 6 weeks, decreased until 16 weeks and then remained relatively constant, while testosterone levels increased steadily from low levels at birth to highest levels at 28-32 weeks of age. Prolactin levels rose to a plateau by 6 weeks, remained high until 18 weeks and decreased gradually until 32 weeks.