OVULABILITY OF OVARIAN FOLLICLES IN THE HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED HEN1

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Abstract
A single intravenous injection of mammalian LH administered to hypophysectomized laying hens at 3 to 15 hours after operation forced the ovulation of two ova. The percent of hens ovulating twice was greatest (87%) when LH was given six hours postoperatively. Only single ovulations were induced in birds receiving LH within 2 hours following pituitary removal. The number of hens ovulating when injected at intervals greater than 12 hours declined sharply due to the onset of visible follicular atresia. The minimum effective level of LH for a single or double ovulation was considerably less at 12 hours than at 6 hours after hypophysectomy. The implied role of an incipient atresia of the follicle wall in the normal ovulatory process is discussed.