Abstract
Summary
Both ovaries of mature female rats were autotransplanted into the spleen, allowing the ovaries to be stimulated by pituitary gonadotrophins, but denying them the presence of circulating estrogen by interposing the liver between the ovaries and the systemic circulation.
The ovaries of these animals increased 3-fold in weight after 30-57 days transplantation (149.5 mg) over their weight at the time of operation (49.0 mg).
Two groups of experimental animals were injected with estradiol benzoate. One group received amounts exceeding physiological requirements and the other amounts approximately meeting physiological requirements. In both groups, the ovarian weights showed a marked decrease below the weight at operation.
It is concluded that ovarian growth is inhibited by the presence of circulating estrogens.
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