On Progesterone and Estrogen Production of the Ovary of the Rabbit after the Administration of LH and LTH as well as during Pregnancy

Abstract

Thirty one rabbits which were verified as estrous by the vaginal smear test, and eight estrous, 48 hour-hypophysectomized rabbits were administered intramuscularly a single dose of LH Lot #R377242H and LTH-P (Prolactin) Lot #P10011 ; Armour Co. each alone or both combined, and the chemical ana-lysis of urinary pregnanediol and estrogen (just before, and 24 hours, 48 hours and 96 hours after the administration) in combination with the histological and histochemical examination of the ovary (in the non-hypophysectomized cases 5 hours, 10 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 96 hours after the administration, in the hypophysectomized cases 96 hours after the administration) were made.These results in comparison with the results in pregnancy (the chemical analysis in 7 cases and the histochemical examination in 14 cases) were discussed.The chemical determination was performed according to a modified Stimmel method (1952), and for the histochemical examination were used the Sudan, Schiff, Al-phosphatase, methylgreen-pyronin, V.C., Bielschowsky staining method, and the birefringence technique.The summary is as follows : 1. In non-hypophysectomized estrous rabbits urinary pregnanediol excretion increased after the administration of LH 10mg and LTH 60 I.U. each alone or both combined, and this increase taken in conjunction with the lacing of the endometrium of the rabbits injected indicate their progesterone secretion.2. The administration of LH 10mg, 25mg and LTH 60 I.U. each alone to hypophysectomized rabbits induced the increased progesterone secretion.3. As to the increased progesterone secretion observed in both the estrous LTH treated rabbits, and hypophysectomized LH or LTH treated rabbits, neither of which had corpora lutea, a probable main origin of this hormone is considered to be the interstitial gland, which showed the marked decrease of its lipids including cholesterol and the activated morphological features synchronously.4. As to the increased progestorone secretion just after mating, a probable main origin of this hormone is also considered to be the interstitial gland.5. In estrous rabbits the administration of LH 10mg alone or LH and LTH combined induced the increased urinary excretion of estrogen, but LTH 60 I.U. alone did not induce this increase.6. In hypophysectomized rabbits the administration of LH 10mg, 25mg alone induced the increased urinary excretion of estrogen, but LTH 60 I.U. alone did not induce this increase.7. In connection of this increase of urinary estrogen after the LH administration and no increase after the LTH administration, histologically were observed some hypertrophy and engorgement of the theca interna after the LH administration, and a tendency of the granulosa cells to degenerate and atrophy after the LTH administration.8. In estrous rabbits, ovulation and corpora lutea were observed after the administration of LH 10 mg alone or LH 10mg and LTH 60 I.U. combined, but none of them was observed after LTH 60 I.U. alone.9. In hypophysectomized rabbits, no ovulation was observed macroscopically after the administration of LH 10mg, 25mg or LTH 60I.U..10. In this experiment, the Sudan and/or Schiff positive lipids of the ovary varied in a close correlation with its endocrine activity.