Ultrastructural Features of Vagina at Different Phases of the Oestrous Cycle in the Female African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianusWaterhouse)

ABSTRACT The mechanisms involved in the prolongation of the oestrous cycle following LH administration were studied in 4-day cyclic female Wistar rats. In females injected with LH on the morning of dioestrus I there was an increase in ovarian venous blood progesterone as compared with non-injected animals. In both LH-treated females, and those injected with progesterone on the morning of dioestrus I, a slowing up in follicular growth was observed from the afternoon of dioestrus I. The size of follicles greater than 400 urn present in LH or progesterone injected animals on the third day of cycle was similar to the size reached by the same range of follicles in non-injected animals on the second day of the cycle. Hence, the increase in endogenous ovarian progesterone elicited by LH was considered as the cause of the slowing up of follicular growth and therefore of the lengthening of the oestrous cycle duration in female rats injected with LH at the beginning of 4-day cycle.

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FSH AND LH LEVELS IN THE INTACT AND UNILATERALLY OVARIECTOMIZED CYCLING RAT

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0690267 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

pp. 267-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Richard D. Peppler

Keyword(s):

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Follicular Development ◽

Slight Modification ◽

Oestrous Cycle ◽

Successive Cycle ◽

Unilateral Ovariectomy ◽

Subsequent Cycle ◽

Intact Rats

ABSTRACT Intact 5-day cycling rats were killed between 8–10 a. m. on each day of the oestrous cycle; experimental rats were unilaterally ovariectomized (ULO) at 9 a. m. on day 1 (oestrus) and killed between 8 and 10 a. m. on days 2, 3, 4 or 1 of the subsequent cycle. Pituitary and plasma concentrations of FSH and LH were measured in both groups of rats. Pituitary FSH concentration was measured by the Steelman-Pohley method with slight modification; plasma FSH by the Igarashi-McCann assay and pituitary and plasma LH concentration by the OAAD method. In intact rats, pituitary FSH values remained constant for the first three days of the cycle, increased on day 4 and reverted to early cycle values by day 5. Plasma FSH increased between days 2 and 3 and days 5 and 1. Pituitary LH concentration remained the same for days 1 and 2; increased two-fold on days 3 and 4, and increased further by day 5. Plasma LH increased between days 2 and 3; other differences between successive cycle days were not apparent. Following ULO on day 1, pituitary FSH increased steadily, but not significantly, for the remaining cycle. Plasma FSH did not change from day 2 through day 1 of the subsequent cycle. Pituitary LH remained low on day 2, increased sharply by day 3 and decreased (50 %) by day 4. Plasma LH also increased between days 2 and 3. Other differences between successive days following unilateral ovariectomy on day 1 were not apparent. Correlation of gonadotrophin activity with follicular development suggests that the mechanism of compensatory ovulation in the rat may be one of an increase in time of exposure to a constant gonadotrophic level for the duration of the oestrous cycle rather than to increased levels of the gonadotrophin.

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EFFECT OF FEEDING ETHINYLOESTRADIOL FOR VARIOUS PERIODS BEFORE MATING ON REPRODUCTION IN THE HAMSTER

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0700582 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 582-590

Author(s):

B. K. Davis ◽

I. Noske ◽

M. C. Chang

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Pregnancy Rate ◽

Fertility Control ◽

Normal Pregnancy ◽

Oestrous Cycle ◽

The Other ◽

Feeding Schedule ◽

Crown Rump Length ◽

Essentially Normal ◽

Effect Of Feeding

ABSTRACT Ethinyloestradiol (EO) fed for various periods before mating to female hamsters affected the timing of mating and pregnancy rate. Slight effects on ovulation, foetal-crown rump length and resorption may have occurred, but effects on implantation were not apparent among pregnant hamsters. The response observed depended upon the feeding schedule adopted: hamsters fed 2.5 mg EO in a single dose, on day 3 before mating, mated normally but had a significantly lower pregnancy rate; on the other hand, animals fed 2.5 mg EO (0.21 mg/day) over three oestrous cycles, days 14–3 before mating, showed variations in the time of mating but had an essentially normal pregnancy rate; and, a group of hamsters who received the same total amount of EO (0.63 mg/day) over one oestrous cycle, days 6–3 premating, showed untowards effects by the steroid on both the timing of mating and pregnancy rate. The implications of these results are considered in relation to fertility control.

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