Ovaries, Uterus, and Mammary Glands in Rabbit. 425 



The following is an account of our experiments. In Experiments 7-17 

 the animals were all virgin prior to the occurrence of the recorded coition. 

 The uterine changes are described separately below in dealing with the 

 question as to the influence of the corpora lutea upon the uterus. 



(7) A rabbit, 6 months old, was killed 3 days after a sterile copulation 

 with a buck from which portions of each vas deferens had been removed. 

 The ovaries contained corpora lutea. The ducts of the mammary glands 

 were well developed, and there were slight traces of alveolar formation. 



(8) A rabbit, 7 months old, was killed 5 days after a sterile copulation. 

 There were corpora lutea of two ages present in the ovaries, and the mammary 

 glands were well developed with the alveoli containing a secretion that 

 appeared to be milk. 



(9) A rabbit, 8 months old, in which the Fallopian tubes had been 

 ligatured, was killed 9 days after a sterile copulation. The ovaries contained 

 corpora lutea. The alveoli of the mammary glands were in process of 

 formation. 



(10) A rabbit, 8 months old, in which the Fallopian tubes had been 

 ligatured, was killed 12 days after a sterile copulation. Sections through the 

 ovaries showed that ovulation must have occurred in this case some 

 considerable time (probably about 25 days) previously, since the corpora lutea 

 were old and degenerate, and not recognisable on the surface of the ovaries. 

 The mammary glands showed signs of involution, but milk was present in 

 both the large and the small ducts. Milk could be expressed from the nipples 

 before killing. 



(11) A virgin rabbit, aged 7 months, was found to have ovulated spon- 

 taneously, this being very unusual in rabbits as above mentioned.* The 

 ovaries contained corpora lutea, apparently about 14 days old. There were 

 numerous alveoli found in the mammary glands (fig. 2). 



(12) A rabbit, aged 15 months, from which portions of the Fallopian tubes 

 had been removed, was killed 16 days after a sterile coition. The alveoli 

 of the mammary glands were well developed. 



(13) A rabbit, aged 8 months, was killed 24 days after a sterile coition 

 with a vasectomised buck. Old corpora lutea were found in sections 

 through one of the ovaries. The alveoli of the mammary glands were well 

 developed and active, containing a granular milky secretion. Milk could be 

 squeezed from the nipples. The milk was examined microscopically and 



* This rabbit was in a cage with another female. Doe rabbits in a state of oestrus 

 when kept together have been observed to "jump" one another after the manner of cows 

 when on heat, and it is possible that the stimulus set up in this way may be sufficient to 

 induce ovulation. 



