DEVELOPMENT OF OVARIAN AUTOGRAFTS ON THE GREATER OMENTUM IN SPAYED HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS AND IN CASTRATES TREATED WITH METHALLIBURE, GONADOTROPHINS AND OESTRADIOL BENZOATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hypophysectomy was performed at the same time as ovariectomy in 19 rats aged 6 weeks; in addition a fragment of the animal's own ovary was implanted into the greater omentum. The graft took but there was complete cessation of the growth of the implant and a decrease in body and uterine weights as compared to 15 ovariectomized controls of the same age killed after one month. This shows that the pituitary is indispensable for the growth of ovarian implants but not for their take. In 84 spayed rats aged 3 weeks with ovarian implants, methallibure (6 mg/day in a 0.2% solution of Tween 20) was given by gavage during one month. Some of them were treated with PMSG (20 IU/day), HCG (20 IU/day) or with oestradiol benzoate (0.05 mg/day) only or in combinations. As controls, there were 74 spayed rats with ovarian implants, seven of which received Tween 20, and 67 were untreated. No differences were found between the two control groups. Methallibure alone caused arrest of the development of the implants and uteri and a decrease in body weight. In the methallibure treated animals HCG stimulated the growth of the implant which was, however, smaller than that in the controls, while PMSG restored the weight of the implant even above that of the control rats. Oestradiol benzoate caused a further diminution in the size of the implants but augmented considerably the influence of HCG on the implants. It had no effect on the weight of the implant in rats treated with PMSG. It is concluded that FSH is the principal implant growth-promoting factor and that oestrogens appear to act in two directions. They decrease the gonadotrophin output from the pituitary thus inhibiting the growth of the implants, but in the presence of gonadotrophins they act directly on the implants, promoting their development.