REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN THE PIG AFTER AUTOTRANSPLANTATION OF THE OVARY BY VASCULAR ANASTOMOSES

¹ A.R.C. Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT

Orthotopic autotransplantation of the left ovary with vascular anastomoses to the aorta and vena cava on the right side of the abdomen of a gilt, in which the right ovary had been removed, was followed by normal cyclic activity ofthe transplanted ovary and the successful establishment, maintenance and completion of pregnancies of normal gestational length, with apparently normal lactation.

Heterotopic autotransplantation of the left ovary with vascular anastomoses to major vessels in the neck in two sows, in which the other ovary had been removed, was also followed by cyclic ovarian activity of normal length with normal sexual behaviour. The observations suggest that, in the pig, the uterine luteolysin is capable of acting by a vascular route independent of local connexions.