DECIDUOMAL RESPONSE IN OVARIECTOMIZED PSEUDOPREGNANT RATS GIVEN OESTRONE AND PROGESTERONE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The deciduomal response to uterine trauma in rats ovariectomized on day 2 or 4 of pseudopregnancy and given oestrone, 1 μg, progesterone, 2 mg, on various days thereafter has been compared with that in intact pseudopregnant controls. Trauma was effected by inserting a sterile silk thread into the lumen of one uterine horn of each animal on day 5 of pseudopregnancy and the response was evaluated at autopsy on day 9**. Significant differences in response were observed between rats ovariectomized on days 2 and 4, respectively, of pseudopregnancy. Progesterone whether given alone or with oestrone to rats ovariectomized on day 2 of pseudopregnancy produced an increase in weight of the traumatized horn not significantly smaller than that produced in intact controls. In animals given progesterone alone, however, the ratio of weight of the traumatized to untraumatized horns (T/U) was significantly smaller than control. In animals ovariectomized on day 4 of pseudopregnancy a different situation obtained. Progesterone alone from ovariectomy to autopsy produced only a moderate increase in the weight of the traumatized horn and a ratio T/U half that seen in control animals. Thus, in such animals both oestrone, given at least on day 4, and progesterone were needed to produce a deciduomal response not different from control.