hamsters. In the hamster it has been shown that after ovariectomy implantation of blastocysts in the uterus can occur with progesterone treat- ment alone. (Orsini.
BIOLOGY
OF
1, 253-257
REPRODUCTION
(1969)
Implantation
and
Embryonic
Development
Ovariectomized-Adrenalectomized
J.
M.
K. HARPER,
Worcester
DIANA
Foundation
for
Ten
groups,
five
cortisol
subjected
to
weights
given
animals
can
and
14
Day
were,
although
they
progesterone.
It
of estrogen
either
from
it has
been
per
induce
ovariectomy
on
animals,
to ten
acetate
group
were
were
adrenalectomy
on
not
different
ovaries
or
in
Day
01545
that
embryonic
growth
1 or
those
on
Day
than in
that the
Massachusetts
demonstrating
maintain
from from
bury,
lower
therefore,
S. W. ELLIOTT
1969
used
significantly
concluded, the
13,
and
however,
is
Shrews
March
implantation
ANN
AND
Biology,
Received
plus
Hamster’
DOWD,2
Experimental
in the
4 of
in
animals for
in
hamsters
pregnancy,
Fetal
sham-operated only
control
ovariectomized
it is unnecessary
adrenals
progesterone
to
induction
and
invoke
of
secretion
implantation
in
hamsters.
In the
hamster
ovariectomy
implantation
the uterus ment alone Orsini,
and
not
that
Meyer,
1960;
Harper,
Certain
contribution.
steroids
androstenedione-have,
1969)
when
and
the latter
effects Orsini and that for
in
in hamsters Psychoyos
A
shown to (Harper, to produce
(1965)
of the and
placed
with
the group
nancy,
while
were
subjected
10.
adrenal
This
work
42,369) and
was
Career from
Human
the
supported
National
Development
2 Summer chusetts,
of
Child student
part
Health from
by
a IJ.S.P.H.S.
Award
(K4-HD-
Institutes to
grants from the U.S.P,H.S, and HD-03003 to M. C. Institutes
in
Development M.
of
J.
K.
Child
Harper
remnants
(HD-02597 to M. J. K. H. Chang) from the National
Ovariectomy through
and
Human
the
University
the
of
to
the
Massa-
Amherst.
fetuses
and
that
253
resorption
on and
of
this
may
of embryos
after
a
made
pregnancy
the lapaon the
(under
500
were
counted,
and
The to
between
perto
fetuses
remnants, be
the
no
were
the un-
were
of
weighed.
of placental
or
numbers Owing
moles
assumed
which
from
surgery,
nonviable
or
ovarian
deaths group
sites
and
was
ones any
excluded
14
I
were
experimental
incisions.
Day
placentae
sites
recognized
other
each
4. There
important
double
preg-
Day
adrenalectomy
this
placentae,
number
the
the
ovari-
1 of
on
Day
implantation
of viable
sham
6 animals
addition
dorsal
of
count
total
since
In reduced
autopsy
atrophic
least
were
and
nature 8. At
to
evidence
two
implantation
Development.
of most
(Day groups.
Day
1 or
autopsy
also
formed
mg),
each four
results.
numbers by
at
surgery
rotomies
Health and
the
left
morning
alone
Day
with
evenly.
Day
on in
for
experimental
at
ovariectomy
Animals
traumatic 1
to
and
experimental on
of
estrus
spermatozoa
subjected
groups
6 animals
double
was
evening
next
in the
adrenalectomy
other
except
had
is
growth in hamsters. The present experiments were therefore undertaken to determine whether exogenously
Research
sham
in
showing the
used
alone
least
groups
in the
discharge were
were
Females
females
of 8 females and
auratus)
breeder. males
those
postestrous
ectomy
at
local
fertile
Only
imin
METHODS
(Mesocricetus a
adrenalectomy
(Harper, have
adrenals embryonic
hamsters
1 of pregnancy)
administered
steroid
the presence implantation
were
AND
from
overnight.
and
exogenously in large doses, been produce estrogenic effects in rats
suggested necessary
Mature purchased
by the
produced
could support development hamsters.
MATERIALS
of an adrenal
dehydroepiandrosterone
progesterone and embryonic
ovariectomized-adrenalectomized
treatPrasad, Prostkoff,
the possibility
adrenal-notably
estrogenic 1967a).
administered plantation
in
1966). Ovariectomy, while it reproduction of ovarian estrogen,
preclude
1967b;
after
blastocysts
can occur with progesterone (Orsini and Meyer, 1959;
and Reeve, moves any does
shown of
slight
be
number equivalent However
of to it is
underestimate implantation
and
254
HARPER,
Day
8 probably
6%
of
between was
leaves
total
implantation unaccounted 1964),
ectomized
hamsters
counted
on
sites
at
autopsy.
loss
has
been
shown
and
Day
11,
for by
(Harper,
In
Day
trace
but
In
less
than
only
0.6%
by
Day
14
on
The
hormones
used
in this
(Calbiochem),
Biochemicals
of these
(Harper
Inc.).
All
progesterone
0.25
ml
of cottonseed
and
injected
subcutaneously
was
suspended
in 0.25
(ip).
by
et
and
in
one
on
Day
not
commenced
hamsters from
group
1955)
at
injected was
and
pregnancy
to
between
the
the
method
means range
and of
water
of autopsy.
treatment
multiple
p < .05 level,
the
using
drinking
day
were
test
other
an-
(Duncan,
In Table sters
mated
tions
and
shown
and
the
viable
different ated
1 are
80%
nant
and
fetuses)
was
autopsy In the
on
Day
sters
4 with
slightly
In
daily
group
adminis-
did
not
affect
at autopsy
injection the
numbers
but
on
of cortisol
had
of hamno effect
on
survival.
only
sham-operated
(i.e., viable
Adrenalectomy daily
reduced
pregnant
survival
at
pregnant at autopsy the percentage of
development.
1 or Day
embryonic
the
pregnant
development that formed 1 and
numbers of animals significantly reduced
acetate
for sham-oper-
were
of 2 mg of progesterone
Day
of hamimplanta-
86%.
embryonic
the
at
groups.
the embryonic of implantations
Ovariectomy the but
with
7 of 8 hamsters
autopsy percentage
tration
numbers
fetuses
treatment
group
the
one not
other
significantly
group
was lower
(control)
group,
ovariectomized
and
embryonic than
and
in that
adrenalectom-
could
and support
also
embryonic
and
results
observed
were
in animals suband given 2 mg/
and
adrenalectomy
were
progesterone
com-
mg/day cortisol acetate development reasonably
of the
day
progesterone
tate
failed
animals
The
and
had
the
numbers
with
at
with
any
of
were
except
those
only
ovariectomized mean number than
A similar of viable
group. in
between
animals
pattern fetuses
was seen (calculated
There
of
and
adrenalectomy.
the
The reduced
was
controls
or not
only
those
sub-
ovariectomized.
In alone
were
was the significantly
for mean numbers per hamster with only two of the on Day 1 or Day
for no
of viable fetuses the sham-oper-
significant
numbers
group
any
smaller
until Day 4. In none of the animals were both
and adrenalectomized of implantations
mean
in
rem-
for all groups
adrenalectomized
for the
the
sites
significantly
4-were the mean numbers not significantly less than ences
of
group.
placental
group
any placental remnant). groups.-adrenalectomy
ated
ace30%
percentage
of implantation
in the sham-operated
preg2 mg/
cortisol
of any
evidence
autopsy
still
(only
lowest
(32%)
supwell
given
pregnancy
survival mean
were
animals
combined
jected to ovariectomy the groups in which
less
mated
Similar
to maintain
at autopsy)
and
mg/day)
2
but
groups
adrenalec1, treatment
4, 1 mg/day
at autopsy.
than
numbers
Day
to those produced to ovariectomy
with 0.5 embryonic
nants RESULTS
and
or
the
ovariectomy
hamsters
(1952).
treatment
mg/day)
Indeed
on Day
bined ported
Murray
(2
progesterone. When
an-
and
(1
implantation
embryonic
differences
Mainland
of
supplement
other
(0.5
growth.
and were
adrenalectomized
saline the
day
except
injections
5. All on
the
adrenalectom-
estrone
Day
Duncan’s
on
only
done
autopsy,
the
acetate
2 mg/day
estrone
5.
progesterone
day
intraperitoneally until
Day from
comparable jected only
acetate
receiving
an
even when ovariectomy were performed on
with
vehicle
commenced
daily
of operation
using
alyzed
and
until
cortisol
of steroid-suspending
maintained
Differences alyzed
ml
in
Company)
The
ovariectomized
1 of
day
Scientific
(sc).
continued
were the
(Fisher
treatment
of operation that
oil
hamster”
dissolved
1 and with
from
that tomy
fetal
acetate
“per
were
Day
.tg/day)
not
(Nutritional
given
estrone
on
cortisol
progesterone
cortisol
were
and
NIH)
Hormone
ized
and
dosages
the
(distributed
were U.S.P.
Corporation),
(Chemed, and
study
estrone
ized
It is clear
were
1966).
U.S.P.
ELLIOTT
ovari-
sites
7 of pregnancy
AND
progesterone
1%
with
implantation
autopsy
occur
at autopsy
studies
which
rats,
to
at least a mole
previous in
disappeared
al.,
no
prenatal
DOWD,
of
differ-
viable
fetuses
ovariectomized
only
to
ovariectomy
subjected
both
and
mean weight of the viable fetuses was from the level of the sham-operated only
in those
adrenalectomized
groups on
Day
ovariectomized 1 and
given
PREGNANCY
AFTER
REMOVAL
OF
OVARIES
AND
255
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