66 



THE VERTEBRATE OVARY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO REPRODUCTION 



CLITORIDEAN 



(PREPUTIAL) 



GLAND 



EXTERNAL 

 VAGINAL ORIFICE 



(^TiA-OVI DUCT 



UTERUS 



CLOACA 



Fig. 37 



Fig. 38 



Fig. 37. Diagrammatic representation of the reproductive organs of the female rat, 

 showing the bursa ovarica around each ovary. Observe that uteri open directly into the 

 vagina. (Modified from Turner, '48.) 



Fig. 38. Diagrammatic representation of reproductive structures of the female frog. 

 Observe that the ostium of the oviduct is not an open, moulh-like structure. It remains 

 constricted until the egg starts to pass through. 



2. Vitamins 



a. Vitamin A 



The ovary is not immediately sensitive to a lack in vitamin A in the diet 

 but general epithelial changes in the reproductive tract occur which may aid 

 in producing sterility (Mason, '39). 



b. Vitamin B 



Ovarian and uterine atrophy occur as a result of deficiency of this vitamin 

 in monkey, rabbit, mouse and rat (Mason, '39). This effect may be mediated, 

 at least partly, through the effect of B-deficiency upon the pituitary gland. 



c. Vitamin C 



During the earlier stages reproductive activity is maintained, but advanced 

 stages of C-deficiency produce regressive effects (Mason, '39). 



