344 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



between the development of the corpus luteum and the growth 

 of the mammary gland in the rabbit. 1 



Dubreuil and Regaud, 2 however, as a result of further ex- 

 periments, are very doubtful whether the corpus luteum has any 

 influence over the non-gravid uterus. On the other hand, the 

 observations of Niskoubina 3 tend to confirm those of Ancel and 

 Bouin. 



According to Loeb, 4 deciduomata (i.e., nodules having the 

 structure of decidua) can be produced experimentally in the 

 uterine mucosa of the guinea-pig by making a number of trans- 

 verse and longitudinal cuts so as to break the continuity of the 

 tissue. The nodules originate through a proliferation of the 

 interglandular connective tissue. Loeb states further that this 

 can only happen during a certain definite period after the occur- 

 rence of copulation or heat. The changes cannot be induced on 

 the first day after heat, nor after the tenth day, but deciduomata 

 are readily formed between the fourth and eighth days. The 

 uterus is therefore most responsive when freshly formed corpora 

 lutea are present in the ovaries. The changes were not excited 

 by the presence of ova in the uterus, since they took place when 

 the lower part of that organ was ligatured off so as to prevent 

 the passage of the ova. On the other hand, if the ovaries were 

 extirpated deciduomata could not be produced. If the corpora 

 lutea were as far as possible burnt out of the ovaries by the 

 electric cautery, deciduomata were not generally produced ; but 

 owing to the difficulty of properly performing these experiments, 

 the results were not quite conclusive. Lastly, when pieces of 

 uterus were transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue, deciduo- 

 mata were formed in the grafted pieces. It is concluded, there- 

 fore, that the ovaries at certain periods after ovulation (and 

 probably the corpora lutea) elaborate a predisposing substance 



1 Ancel and Bouin, loc. cit. 



2 Dubreuil and Kegaud, " Sur les Relations fonctionelles des Corps jaunes 

 avec 1'Uterus non gravide," I. II. III. and IV., C. R. de la Soc. de Biol., vol. 

 Ixvii., 1909. See also earlier papers in vol. Ixv., 1908, and vol. Ixvi., 1909. 



3 Niskoubina, " Recherches experimentales sur la Fonction des Corps 

 jaunes," (7. R. de la Soc. de Biol, vol. Ixvi., 1909. 



4 Loeb (L.), "The Production of Deciduomata, and the Relation between 

 the Ovaries and the Formation of the Decidua," Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., 

 vol 1. (June 6), 1908. Medical Record, vol. Ixxvii. (June 25), 1910. 



