34 



FEMALE BITTERLING 



The ovipositor reaction obtained with the older foetus, 

 therefore, was stronger than that with mature human corpora 

 luteal This discovery is of some significance relatively to 

 Clauberg'S view (1937), according to which the secretions 

 of primordial follicles should be held responsible for the 

 blood-supply and growth of the developing infantile uterus. 

 Whether or not the hormone involved is identical with pro- 

 gesterone might be made the subject of further investigation. 

 Such investigation would be of importance in ascertaining 

 whether there exists a special "interstitium-hormone". 



§ 5. THE REACTION TO URINE 



When the urine of pregnant women is added to the aquarium 

 water, the ovipositor growth-curve shows a totally different 

 character from that obtained after the administration of the 

 steroids already referred to. Thus, with concentrations of 

 ^, Yi, I, 2, 3 and 5 ml urine per 750 ml water at 22° C, 

 the following growth-curves were obtained (Fig. 38). The 

 characteristics of these curves are:— 



Latent period, 5 ^ hours. Growth ceases after 1 2 hours. 



72, 14 

 hours 



Fig. 38. Ovipositor growth-curve obtained with the urine of a non- 

 pregnant woman. Latent time: 5 jA hours. 



