CHAPTER XX 



THE INTERNAL SECRETIONS OF THE GENERATIVE 

 ORGANS IN THE FEMALE (continued) 



Effects of Ovarian Extracts 



On the Uterus. — Extracts of ovary influence the contractions of the uterus 

 and of plain muscular tissue in general. These effects, which have recently 

 been worked out in my laboratory by Dr M. Itagaki, of Kyushu University, 

 but are as yet unpublished, are illustrated by the accompanying tracings 

 (figs. 96 to 101). 



The methods employed to obtain these tracings have been (1) immersion of 

 a length of uterine cornu, or of a strip of uterine muscle, in warmed and oxy- 

 genated Locke's solution, the Locke's solution being replaced for a short period of 

 time by the extract to be investigated, which is itself made with Locke ; (2) injection 

 of the extract into the circulation, and recording the effect upon the uterus or 

 intestine, and at the same time the blood-pressure and kidney volume. The extracts 

 have been made separately from corpora lutea, Graafian follicles, liquor folliculi, and 

 hilum ovarii (i.e. stroma without corpora lutea or Graafian follicles, but presumably 

 containing interstitial cells), and always by boiling the tissue, either fresh or 

 dried, with Locke's solution (without glucose). The ovaries of the sheep and cow 

 were used for preparing the extracts, and the testing was performed on the tissues 

 of the rat, guinea-pig, rabbit, cat, and dog. Occasionally the desiccated organ was 

 extracted first with chloroform and then with absolute alcohol ; these extracts were 

 evaporated down and the dry residue extracted with Locke ; the remainder of the 

 gland which was left after the chloroform and alcohol had acted upon it being also 

 extracted with Locke. 



A striking effect of intravenous injection is obtained with extracts of 

 hilum (interstitial cells). This usually causes inhibition of the normal 

 rhythmic movements, if present, and diminution of tone of the uterine 

 muscle, which may be preceded by an increase (fig. 96). Accompanying 

 this change there is a considerable fall in blood-pressure, even in atropinised 

 animals, and a diminution in volume of the kidney. Corpus luteum extract 

 injected into the veins causes the uterus if quiescent to begin contracting, if 

 already contracting to increase its contractions and to assume an increased 

 tone. Little or no effect on blood-pressure or kidney volume is produced 

 by this extract. 



The result of immersing portions of uterus or strips of uterine and 

 most other plain muscle in extract of follicular tissue or liquor folliculi is 



141 



