Effects of ACTH on Ovarian Histochemistry and Maintenance of Pregnancy in Deermice

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Abstract
Corpora lutea were collected from pregnant deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) on Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 21 (term). Treatment groups were injected with 2 U or 8 U of ACTH every 3 days. ACTH treatment prevented the high levels of alkaline phosphatase activity which occurred between Days 3 and 7 of pregnancy in corpora lutea and follicles of control animals. Acid phosphatase activity in corpora lutea of control deermice was markedly high throughout pregnancy. ACTH administration decreased levels of acid phosphatase activity during the second week of gestation. Treatment with ACTH also exerted decremental effects on postpartum ovulations, passage of embryos across the uterotubal junction, and embryonic growth. Thus, the effects of ACTH on ovarian function and maintenance of pregnancy are consistent with the hypothesis that it diminishes LH secretion. However, there may be an adrenocortical dependent component which influences survival of embryos based upon competition of corticosterone and cortisol for placenta-uterine progesterone receptors. ACTH prevented high progesterone content of placenta-uterine complexes which occurred in control deermice.

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