STUDIES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OVARIAN HORMONES AND UTERINE INFECTION

Abstract

SUMMARY Studies were completed on the rate of uterine antibody production in oestrous rabbits following intrauterine immunization with Escherichia coli. No local antibody response was found to occur until 8 days after immunization, and it was concluded that this response is too slow to account for antibacterial action of the oestrous uterus. In experiments to test the effect of systemic and intrauterine immunization of rabbits with E. coli antigen on the subsequent antibacterial activity of their uteri against E. coli, it was shown that intrauterine, but not systemic, immunization would significantly increase the antibacterial activity of the uteri of both oestrous and pseudopregnant rabbits. The significance of these findings in relation to uterine infection is discussed.