The effect of progesterone on persistent vaginal estrus produced by hypothalamic lesions in the rat.

Abstract

THERE is much evidence indicating that the central nervous system is of importance in the regulation of the hypophysial secretion of gonadotrophic hormones. (Anderson and Haymaker, 1948; Stieve, 1952). Present evidence favors the hypothesis that such control is mediated by neurohumors passing through the hypophysial portal system. (Harris, 1948, Markee, et al., 1952), but the precise nature of such control has not as yet been clearly defined. Although hypothalamic lesions have been employed for many years, systematic studies of pituitaiy function utilizing this technique have been infrequent. With the popularization of the Horsley-Clarke stereotaxic instrument by Ranson and his coworkers it has been possible to produce accurately localized lesions of varying size and thus to permit a more careful study of the problem. Early workers frequently noted the occurrence of genital atrophy and, adiposity following hypothalamic damage (Erdheim, 1904; Bailey and Bremer, 1921) but considerable dispute existed whethe...