Termination of Pregnancy in the Rabbit by Intravenous Injection of Anterior Lobe Pituitary Extract

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Abstract
Ovulation can be induced in the pregnant rabbit at different stages of gestation by a single intravenous injection of extract prepared from the anterior lobe of the pituitary. It is almost invariably associated with either resorption or abortion of the embryos. In most cases, atrophy of all the existing corpora lutea of pregnancy is produced, but in the early stages both atrophic and non-atrophic structures can be found together. Ovulation does not occur exclusively; haemorrhagic follicles being also produced as a result of the action of the extract. The proportions in which ruptured and haemorrhagic follicles are formed varies according to the stage of pregnancy at which injection is made.