THE CORPUS LUTEUM-PITUITARY RELATIONSHIP: THE LUTEOTROPHIC ACTIVITY OF HOMOTRANSPLANTED PITUITARIES IN INTACT RATS11

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Abstract
The effect of a pituitary homotransplanted beneath the kidney capsule on the estrous cycle of the intact rat was studied. The majority of 37 rats treated in this way showed a pseudopregnancy-like prolongation of the diestrus in progress at the time of operation, with a marked tendency for succeeding cycles, over a period of roughly 3 months, also to be prolonged. Eight control rats, homotransplanted with a piece of cerebellum in place of a pituitary, tended to continue to have estrous cycles of normal length. The prolonged cycles had an immediate onset in rats operated on at any stage of the vaginal cycle except the second diestrous day. In these, cycle prolongations began after the first complete postoperative cycle. There was a high incidence of incomplete estrous smears, characterized by only a single day of nucleated or cornified epithelial cells and preceded and followed by smears predominantly of leucocytes, in the experimental group. The incidence of such smears ending normal as well as prolonged cycles was greater than in the control rats. These results were briefly discussed in relation to the pituitary factors that may affect the life of the corpus luteum, and the control of LTH secretion.

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