The Behaviour of the Uterus of the Rhesus Monkey Under the Influence of Certain Hormones

Abstract

In view of the well-known species differences in the realm of reproductive physiology it would be a great advantage if an animal were found whose uterine muscle reacted in a manner similar to that of the human subject. It would make investigations of dosage of hormones and of hormone therapy of uterine muscle distinctly easier.The fifteen animals, all of the species Macaca mulatta, were healthy but probably subadult, except Mil, which had the wrinkled sex skin of the adult, and M 3 which showed an ovulating follicle at operation although the sex skin was not wrinkled ; M 3 and Mil were the heaviest animals in the series. It is not possible to give an estimate of the age of any of the animals, but, as will be seen later, there is in the experiments no char¬ acteristic of the behaviour of the uterus which can be correlated with the body weight (as an index of the age) of the animals.All the animals were ovariectomized through a mid-line ventral incision using aseptic precautions. Nembutal (30 mg./kg.) given subcutaneously in about 5 ml. of Locke's solution was found to be an ideal anaesthetic. Only a little ether by inhalation was necessary when going through the peri¬ toneum. The abdomen was closed carefully, layer by layer, and the skin wound covered by collodion gauze. In order to prolong the period of post¬ operative quiescence a further dose of nembutal was given when the animal