Abstract
Summary
Compensatory ovarian changes were studied in anestrous ewes by unilateral ovariectomy or destruction of follicles in one ovary by cauterization. Growth of new follicles occurred within 4 days in ovaries that had their follicles destroyed but the resulting follicular development was not as great as in untreated ovaries (p < .01). The sum of ovarian follicular fluid weight (FFW) of one treated (follicles cauterized) and one untreated ovary was approximately as great as the sum of both ovaries of control ewes. The FFW in the untreated ovary of ewes with follicles destroyed in the opposite ovary and the FFW of the remaining ovary of unilaterally ovariectomized ewes was greater (p < .05) than the FFW of comparable ovaries of control groups. No significant differences were found between the remaining ovary in unilateral ovariectomized ewes and the untreated ovary in ewes with follicles destroyed in one ovary.
It is concluded that ovarian compensatory changes take place in the anestrous ewes, which are consistent with the hypothesis that increased release of gonadotropins resulted due to decreased levels of estrogens following hemicastration or destruction of follicles.
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