LUTEOTROPHIC FUNCTION OF AUTOGRAFTS OF THE RAT HYPOPHYSIS1

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Abstract
Adult, virgin female rats were hypophysectomized on the day following ovulation. In the experimental animals the anterior hypophysis was auto-transplanted to the renal capsule (12 cases) or the vicinity of the common artery (2 cases). Control animals were simply hypophysectomized. Uteri of all rats were traumatized 4 days later and autopsy was performed on the 8th day. None of the 9 control rats in which hypophysectomy had been either complete or nearly complete formed deciduomata. However, good deciduomata were formed in 6 grafted animals that had been completely hypophysectomized and 8 in which hypophysectomy had been nearly complete. In addition, 6 of 7 partially hypophysectomized, non-grafted animals that retained large fragments of the gland gave significant decid-uoma reactions. Results indicate that removal of the gland from its normal relationship with the hypothalamus, or even local interference with such relationship, not only allows luteotropin secretion to take place, but actually favors this activity.