Ovulation in the Rabbit as a Diagnostic Measure in Early Pregnancy.

Abstract

In a previous communication, 1 a preliminary report of 100 cases has been submitted, demonstrating the production of ovulation in immature female rabbits by the intravenous injection of urine from pregnant women, and its application as a diagnostic measure in early pregnancy. The work of Friedman 2 on ovulation in the rabbit indicated that the principles of the Aschheim-Zondek 3 test for pregnancy might be applied with greater facility by the use of rabbits instead of mice. Of the 100 cases previously reported, 50 were used as controls, the urine being obtained from definitely known pregnant and non-pregnant patients; and in the remaining 50, urine was obtained from women in whom pregnancy was suspected but could not be diagnosed by the usual methods. This was done to determine the value of the test in the diagnosis of early pregnancy, and to attempt to outline its limitations. The results demonstrated a degree of accuracy comparable to that obtainable by the Aschheim-Zondek test, indicating possibilities which stimulated further investigation along these lines. Since that time an additional series of 100 tests have been carried out, and a brief report of the combined result is made.

One female rabbit, 16 weeks of age, is used for each test. From 5 to 7 cc. of a voided first morning specimen of urine is injected into the marginal ear vein. Autopsy is done 30 hours after injection and an immediate diagnosis is possible by macroscopic inspection of the ovaries, depending on the presence or absence of corpora hemorrhagica and corpora lutea. The description of this technique, when compared with a description of the Aschheim-Zondek test, emphasizes its simplicity and practicability.

In the complete series of 200 tests, 50 were carried out as controls, while 150 were used as actual test cases in which pregnancy was suspected but could not be diagnosed by the usual methods.