STUDIES ON HYPERTROPHY, REGENERATION, AND RETARDATION OF OVARIAN WEIGHTS IN GROWING RATS AFTER STRONE INJECTIONS

¹ The Department of Physiology, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.

1. The effects of strone on the estrous cycle, ovaries, hypophysis, and several other organs have been studied in semi-ovariectomised rats, in rats with one-half of each ovary removed, and in rats with entire ovaries.

2. strone in 1 to 20 rat units daily for six weeks had little, if any, effect on the secretion of the hypophysis as shown by (1) normal hypertrophy of the remaining ovary, (2) normal regeneration of ovarian fragments, and (3) insignificant reduction in the weight of the entire ovaries.

3. The length of the estrous cycles was practically unaffected, but the percentage of time in estrus was somewhat longer in the strone injected groups. This latter effect may not be specific, as shown by similar results in the saline injected controls.

4. The spleen, liver, lungs, and thymus were slightly increased in weight. The adrenals, pituitary, uterus, thyroid, heart, kidneys, intestines, and brain were unchanged in weight by strone.

5. A discussion indicating that ovarian hypertrophy and regeneration may not be entirely controlled by the action of strone on the pituitary gland is presented for consideration.