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MODE OF ACTION OF OESTROGEN IN MAINTAINING THE FUNCTIONAL LIFE OF CORPORA LUTEA IN SHEEP

Summary.: Twice-daily intramuscular injections of 0·5 mg oestradiol benzoate, starting on Day 3 of the cycle, were able to prolong the life of the corpora lutea in sheep, as judged by their weight, their DNA and RNA content, and the progesterone concentration in ovarian vein blood. This luteotrophic effect persisted even when the pituitary stalks of the animals were sectioned, but it was abolished when the animals were hypophysectomized.

Four possible sites of oestrogen action were considered; the hypothalamus, the pituitary, the corpus luteum and the uterus. It was concluded that oestrogen is luteotrophic principally because of its action on the uterus, where it seems to interfere with the normal luteolytic mechanism.