THE PITUITARY BODY 



R. palustris), the injection of prolan was not followed by ovu- 

 lation (Kuyper, Pfeiffer, and Wills, 1933; Rugh, 1935). 



All reports agree that the injection of prolan has no stimu- 

 lating effect on the gonads of birds (pigeon, fowl, and duck). 

 These observations are discussed on pages 200, 209. 



The effects of prolan administration on the female genital 

 tract of mammals have been observed in the bat, hedgehog, 

 mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, ferret, cow, cat, dog, monkey, 

 and man. The most numerous observations have been made 

 in mice, rats, and rabbits. Zondek (1933) administered pro- 

 lan to hibernating female bats. The hormone caused ovula- 

 tion and the ova were fertilized by sperms already present in 

 the uterine cavity. Usually the ovaries contained only one or 

 two large follicles; large doses of prolan, however, also caused 

 luteinization of other follicles. Similarly, Caffier (1934) used 

 prolan to cause ovulation in the hibernating bat {Myotis). 

 As in Zondek's experiments, the ova were fertilized without 

 disturbing hibernation. Herlant (1931) injected prolan into 

 hibernating hedgehogs. In immature animals there occurred 

 ovarian hypertrophy with follicular growth and atresia, and 

 hypertrophy of the theca cells. In adult animals he found 

 similar changes in the ovaries as well as ovulation in two in- 

 stances; there were also secondary changes in the uterus and 

 vagina. 



The effects of prolan on the genital tract of the female mouse. — 

 The changes in the genital tract of the female mouse following 

 the injection of prolan have been investigated in detail by 

 Aschheim and Zondek. As is well known, they have described 

 three changes which may occur in the ovary of the immature 

 mouse after the injection of prolan: (i) follicle growth,^ 

 (2) hemorrhage into follicles which may be partially lute- 

 inized, and (3) corpus luteum formation commonly without 

 ovulation (corpora lutea atretica). The response of individu- 



* Moricard (1933) has particularly studied the ovum. 

 [184I 



