Abstract
That Loeb's hypothesis concerning the production of deciduomata in experimental animals is correct has become increasingly apparent. He concluded following his work upon guinea pigs 1 that this reaction depends upon the continued presence of the hormone of the corpus luteum. Frank 2 showed that this phenomenon can be induced in lactating rats by the stimulation of the uterine endometrium at the proper time following parturition. Long and Evans 3 confirmed and extended his findings. In their work pseudo-pregnant as well as lactating animals were employed. They also introduced a convenient and non-traumatic method of uterine stimulation, viz., the insertion of silk threads through the lumen of the uterus. Evans and Simpson 4 were able to demonstrate the efficacy of both the growth and the maturity hormones of the anterior pituitary in evoking a uterine response. The result depended upon the induction of a pseudo-pregnant condition in the host's ovaries. Parkes 5 employing an alkaline extract of the anterior pituitary showed that the phenomenon could be induced in the mouse.
Following this evidence for the rôle played by the corpus luteum in placentoma formation it was but a step to the employment of active extracts of corpora lutea in creating a condition in the uterus whereby the reaction could be called forth. Weichert, 6 using Hisaw's preparation was able to produce deciduomata in spayed and normal animals and Goldstein and Tatelbaum, 7 employing the extract prepared by Allen and Corner, were able to confirm Weichert's results on spayed guinea pigs.
It was considered of value to demonstrate the reaction in the rat when evoked by suitable treatment with an active extract of the corpus luteum.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.