ISSN:
0003-276X
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Various parameters of ovarian activity were determined for the intact or hypophysectomized pregnant mouse, as a baseline to establish the nature of luteotropic hormones in this species.Seventeen per cent of White Swiss mice with a vaginal plug were not pregnant at subsequent stages of gestation. The greatest number of failures occurred between days 12 and 15 of pregnancy, coinciding with the temporary absence of antral follicles and regressive changes in the vaginal epithelium. This suggests that there is a period of transient hormonal imbalance before full placental function is established, which is responsible at this time for the peak in embryonic mortality.Two periods of luteal growth were apparent between days 1 and 4 and 10 to 14 of pregnancy. The first histologic evidence of luteal regression occurred at day 16, correlating with renewed squamous cell proliferation of the vaginal mucosa.There were no significant differences in the number of ova shed on day 1 of pregnancy (11.0 ∓ 0.5 ova) and the subsequent number of embryonic swellings at any stage. Gestation in intact pregnant mice lasted 18 days (n = 2) or 19 days (n = 36). The number of young counted late on day 1 post partum (9.1 ± 0.5) was significantly less than the number of embryonic swellings as a result of maternal cannibalism.Hypophysectomy on day 1 of pregnancy led to rapid histologic degeneration of the corpus luteum. In this feature, the mouse resembled the hamster rather than the rat. Day 10 of pregnancy represented the earliest time at which, at least in some animals the pituitary could be removed and pregnancy continue. Following hypophysectomy from day 11 on, luteal activity, continuation of pregnancy, fetal and placental weight and vaginal histology were comparable to intact, pregnant mice. This is similar to the hypophysectomized rat in the latter half of pregnancy but differs from the situation in the hamster.On the basis of the present findings and results in the following paper, it appears likely that the mouse placenta, in addition to secreting a prolactin-like hormone, also produces other gonadotropins.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.1091630302
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