ASPECTS OF THE REGULATION OF CORPUS LUTEUM FUNCTION IN ANDROGEN-STERILIZED FEMALE RATS

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Abstract
Some aspects of the regulation of function of artificially induced corpora lutea in androgen-sterilized female rats have been studied. The morphology of the vaginal epithelium and the distribution of sudan-ophilic materials in the luteal cells served as criteria for possible corpus luteum function. Pseudopregnancy, i.e. corpus luteum function during a defined period, as can be observed in female rats after sterile copulation, could not be induced in androgen-sterilized rats by daily cervical stimulation, by 3 daily injections of reserpine or by the presence of an isotransplanted pituitary gland during the first 4 days after the induction of corpus luteum formation. Prolonged corpus luteum function during at least 45 days was observed in animals bearing an isotransplanted pituitary gland under the kidney capsule. It is suggested that the evenly distributed sudanophilia in these corpora lutea is a result of the "tonic LH secretions" of the pituitary gland in situ. Comparison with similar studies in male rats led to the conclusion that an ovulation-inducing release of gonadotrophins plays a major role in the termination of the luteal phase in normal female rats. In ovariectomized andro- gen-sterilized rats treated with progesterone and estrone a decreased response of the uterus to a traumatic stimulus was noticed as compared with the response in similarly treated normal rats.