Relation of Local Circulation between Ovaries and Uterus to Lifespan of Corpora Lutea in Rats

Effects of Section of Utero-Ovarian Vascular Connections on the Duration of Pseudopregnancy in the Rat

“…The present demonstration that section of the anterior uterine vessels prolongs pseudopregnancy in the rat confirms the observations of Clemens et al ( 1968), and accords with observations on the guinea-pig (Bland & Donovan, 1969) and sheep (Dobrowolski & Hafez, 1970). Neither section of the uterine tube nor section of the mesosalpinx and broad ligament produced any effect on the duration of pseudopregnancy, although a significant interaction between these two procedures was found in the second pseudopregnancy.…”

“…An important factor in interpretation of this result is the direction of blood flow in this artery. Clemens et al (1968) appear to have assumed that this vessel carries blood from the uterine artery to the ovary.…”

Further Studies on the Role of the Uterus in the Regulation of Corpus Luteum Function in Sheep

“…Previous work has also clearly established the local nature of the 'luteolytic' influence of the uterus since removal of one uterine horn from sheep in which corpora lutea were present in both ovaries resulted in regression of the luteal tissue in the ovary which was still connected to the remaining uterine horn, and maintenance of the corpus luteum in the ovary without any direct tissue continuity with uterine tissue Ginther, 1967;Caldwell et al, 1969). Evidence has been presented in other species that the pathway by which this local effect may be mediated to the ovary is by way of a local vascular connection (Howe, 1965;Barley, Butcher & Inskeep, 1966;Clemens, Minaguchi & Meites, 1968). The Present investigation was designed to test this hypothesisby infusing freeze-dried uterine venous plasma, withdrawn at different times during the oestrous cycle of sheep, into the ovarian artery of intact sheep on Day 8 of the normal 16-day cycle and studying the effects of the infusion on corpus luteum function and the length of the ensuing oestrous cycle.…”

Induced Ovulations in Adult Hysterectomized Rats

“…The presence of the uterus can influence ovarian function (Bland & Donovan, 1966;Anderson, 1968;Clemens, Minaguchi & Meites, 1968). Exogenous gonadotrophins can induce ovulation in both immature and mature rats but the number of ova released is much higher in 3-to 5-week-old, than in older, animals (Zarrow & Wilson, 1961;France & Pincus, 1964 …”