Abstract
The purpose of the present paper is to describe a surgical preparation for studying the relationship between the extrinsic and intrinsic innervation of the rabbit's uterus and the myometrial response to oestrin and progestin. This method consists of transplanting the uterus to the anterior abdominal wall, thus severing all the pathways of the motor sympathetic nerves to this organ. It was necessary to perform the operation in 3 stages. After a brief experience it was found desirable to use animals that had dropped at least one litter. Adequate results can often be obtained in animals made pseudopregnant.
First stage. A mature female rabbit weighing approximately 3 1/2 kg. was anesthetized with ether. A longitudinal incision was made to the right of the midline, starting about 3 cm. above the symphysis and extending cephalad a distance of about 6 to 8 cm. The right uterine cornu was brought up into the wound, the tubal end clamped, ligated and incised. Included in this ligature was the ovarian artery and whatever veins accompanied it. The free border of the uterus was then scarified as was an area on the peritoneal surface of the anterior abdominal wall. This area paralleled the original incision and was about 1/2 cm. lateral to it. The scarified area on the uterus was then brought into contact with that on the anterior abdominal wall and fixed there by means of interrupted sutures of plain catgut. These sutures penetrated about half the thickness of the muscle coat. Thus, this stage resulted in a ventro-fixation of the uterus.
Second stage. After an interval of from 1 to 3 weeks the second stage was undertaken. The abdomen was again opened, this time in the midline.
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