THE CORPUS LUTEUM-PITUITARY RELATIONSHIP: A STUDY OF THE COMPENSATORY HYPERTROPHY OF THE OVARY DURING PSEUDOPREGNANCY AND LACTATION IN THE RAT1

Abstract

The growth of an ovary remaining after unilateral ovariectomy was studied in cycling, pseudopregnant and lactating rats. The left ovary was removed in all cases on day 1 of diestrus in the cycling and pseudopregnant rats, and on day 1 postpartum in the lactating rats; the two former groups were observed up to 14 days postoperatively, the latter until day 20 postpartum. The cyclers" remaining ovaries increased in weight from operation onward. In the pseudopregnant rats there was no significant change in ovarian weight until after the 8th postoperative day, and in the lactators, for the entire observation period. These results were discussed in relation to the suppression of folliculotrophin formation or release during pseudopregnancy and lactation.