Abstract
Several papers by Gaunt and his coworkers have recently appeared reporting upon the efficacy of progesterone in maintaining the life of adrenalectomized animals. We felt it would be interesting to determine whether one could induce a sufficient secretion of this hormone by the ovaries themselves to produce a similar effect.
Rats 35 days old at the time of adrenalectomy and weighing about 50 g were used. During the 10 days preceding adrenalectomy the ovaries were stimulated by injecting Gonadin∗ in doses of 2 r.u. or 6 r.u. daily per rat, for the first 5 days, and the same doses of Follutein∗ for the ensuing 5 days. The effect of Gonadin is chiefly upon follicular development while Follutein has mainly a luteinizing action. At the end of this preparatory period the ovaries of the animals on the larger dose weighed about 200 mg, those on the smaller dose, 20 mg. No further injections were given following adrenalectomy. The results are shown in Table I.
The results indicate that the progestin secreted by the corpora lutea of these animals significantly lengthened their time of survival. If the ovaries are removed at the time of adrenalectomy the survival time is no greater than that of the controls; the secretion of testosterone induced by similar stimulation is ineffective. Gaunt, Nelson, and Loomis 1 state that 1–2 mg of crystalline progesterone daily, are required to maintain the adrenalectomized rat. It is interesting, in view of the toxic effects of estrin in such animals, that the flourishing corpus luteum produces a sufficient amount of progestin to replace cortical hormone and also to overcome the effects of whatever estrogenic substance is being produced.
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