THE DIURNAL FLUCTUATION OF ASCORBIC ACID AND PROGESTERONE CONTENTS IN THE OVARIES OF INTACT AND HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED IMMATURE PSEUDOPREGNANT RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ovaries of pseudopregnant immature rats contain less ascorbic acid and more progesterone at 4 p.m. than at 10 and 12 a. m. and 2 p.m. Two days after hypophysectomy, during which time prolactin injections were given to maintain pseudopregnancy, the ascorbic acid content still decreased, while the progesterone content failed to increase. In the intact animals, the increase in progesterone content and part of the ascorbic acid decrease may be explained by a surge of endogenous LH during the afternoon. All effects in the hypophysectomized rats should result from the predominance of catabolic processes. In intact and in hypophysectomized animals the right ovaries usually weigh less than the left ovaries.