Effect of Urine of Castrate Women on the Female Guinea Pig

Abstract

The failure of pregnancy urine to produce morphological changes in the ovaries of guinea pigs similar to those produced in rats has been recognized by Jares, 1 and Selye et al. 2 In view of the recent discovery that the hormone in the urine of castrate women is different from that in pregnancy urine when tested on hypophysectomized female rats (Leonard and Smith 3 ), it seemed of interest to compare their effects on the female guinea pig.

Five guinea pigs ranging from 120 to 250 gm. in weight were injected subcutaneously for 5 to 8 days with an extract of urine of a castrate woman.∗ The amounts used, based on the equivalents of whole urine, varied from 150 cc. to 400 cc. For controls, either one ovary was removed before treatment was begun (3 cases) or comparisons were made with the ovaries of uninjected pigs of similar size. (2 cases.) Two other guinea pigs were treated with 100 R.U. and 500 R.U. of pregnancy urine extract. The ovaries, thyroids, adrenals and uterus were weighed at autopsy and the ovaries were sectioned for further study.

In all cases, the ovaries of the animals receiving the urine of castrate women increased in size and showed very marked follicular development. For example, in 3 young guinea pigs, the control ovaries weighed 29.6 mg., those of the animal receiving 200 cc. equivalent of urine weighed 39.6 mg., and those of the animal receiving 400 cc. equivalent weighed 80.3 mg.

The uteri in all cases were markedly enlarged and the vaginas were open. In the ovaries of the largest animal, corpora lutea were found, none being present in the controls. Thyroids and adrenals were not significantly increased in size.

These results, while not based on a large number of animals, were all consistent in producing the follicular stimulating effect which is characteristic of such urines and is in marked contrast to the effects of pregnancy urine. The guinea pig, like the hypophysectomized rat, can be used qualitatively to differentiate the urinary gonadotropic hormones.