Bilateral maintenance of rabbit corpora lutea by the feto-placental unit

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken to determine (1) whether the rabbit feto-placental unit maintains corpora lutea systematically and/or locally and (2) the interrelationships between conceptus number, luteal weight, luteal progesterone concentrations and serum progesterone levels. Thirty-three does were divided into the following treatment groups: (I) bilaterally pregnant, two ovaries; (II) unilaterally pregnant, two ovaries; (III) bilaterally pregnant, one ovary; (IV) unilaterally pregnant, one ovary, contralateral and (V) unilaterally pregnant, one ovary, ipsilateral. Blood samples were obtained from all rabbits on days 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 post coitum. Does were killed on day 21, and the percentage of viable fetuses, fetal weights, and luteal weights recorded. Blood samples and corpora lutea were analysed for progesterone. Serum progesterone levels were similar for all groups until day 9 post coitum. Levels in groups III, IV and V declined significantly between days 9 and 12 following removal of one ovary at day 9. Fetal viability, fetal weights and luteal progesterone concentrations did not differ among any of the groups. Luteal weights did not differ among groups I, III, IV and V, but luteal weights of animals in group II were lower than those of group I (P<0·05). Ratios of viable fetuses to number of corpora lutea ranged from 1:11–10:5. No differences were observed in serum progesterone, luteal weights or luteal progesterone concentrations among animals with two conceptuses and those with seven or more, but serum progesterone levels in does with only one conceptus were lower than those in does with more (P<0·05). These results indicate that the feto-placental unit maintains corpora lutea systemically and that the high rate of pregnancy failure by day 21 in does with only one conceptus is due to the inability of a single conceptus to maintain normal serum progesterone levels even though the corpus luteum weight is not affected. J. Endocr. (1986) 109, 107–110