Carl G. Hartman 231 



Ovulatiojis. Of the six ovulations observed and credited to the action of the 

 hormones, one is somewhat doubtful. One case deserves special notice: 



No. 584 had not ovulated while in our possession up to Jan. 1940. An exploratory laparo- 

 tomy was performed on Jan. 25, day 12 of the cycle, ^vhen a 4x3-0101. follicle was found in 

 the right ovary; 10 II. U. of Gonadogen Avere at once injected intravenously. The next day 

 the female was mated. On Feb. 7 a 12-day ovum (C637) was recovered by hysterotomy. 



This case raises some interesting points. It is probable that in any species 

 ovulation may be precipitated by a correct intravenous dose of gonadotropes 

 provided a large follicle is present in the ovary. Hence it is likely that in clini- 

 cal experience some of the successes (induced ovulations) may have been 

 merely cases of slightly hastening the ovulation. Since women cannot be 

 laparotomized (as was monkey No. 584 before a course of treatment merely for 

 an inspection of the ovaries), the proper control is lacking in such gyneco- 

 logical experiments. 



The case further illustrates the spontaneous resumption of ovarian function 

 after a period of low activity, a phenomenon which has been seen so often in 

 the Carnegie colony that we have become extremely cautious in evaluating 

 our results. 



It is significant that but one ovulation was effected in March, the beginning 

 of the nonbreeding (refractory) season; the others were referable to the fall 

 and winter, the "best" season for the rhestis monkey. 



In three cases 1,000 U.U. of Gonadogen were injected subcutaneously on 

 June 30, 1941; in no case did ovulation result, but only overstimulation of 

 the ovaries. 



Diffuse Overstimulation of the Ovaries. In the event of failure to effect ovula- 

 tion, if the introduced gonadotropes have any effect at all, it is to awaken an 

 overabundance of follicles to growth, which results in excessively large glands 

 of "cystic" appearance. 



In these ovaries the liquor folliculi is very dense and, despite the large total 

 quantity, there is evidence that generally the estrin output is very low. The 

 Graafian follicles are like overstimulated and exhausted thyroid alveoli which 

 are rich in colloid but poor in thyroxin. The color of the sex skin often be- 

 comes brighter and the vaginal desquamation increases as a result of the 

 injections, but far below that expected. Removal of one ovary does not hasten 

 the onset of the sticceeding menstrual flow appreciably and removal of both 

 does so but slightly. 



One of the evident effects of the treatment with gonadotropes on the ovary 

 is the congestion, which is in many cases visible externally as great, raw-flesh 

 colored areas overlying dilated follicles and, in one ovulatory case, overlying 

 the normal corpus luteum. It was at first believed that these regions were 

 denuded of ovarian cortex; but sections showed them to be due to dilated 

 blood vessels in the somewhat thinner cortex. Internally, this congestion is 

 everywhere apparent in the thecal vessels of follicles Avhich in the living ani- 



