Gerson R. Biskind

Atrophy of Ovaries Transplanted to the Spleen in Unilaterally Castrated Rats; Proliferative Changes Following Subsequent Removal of Intact Ovary

An ovary placed in the spleen of an animal that has one normal ovary undergoes atrophy that starts as early as 24 days after transplantation. Severe atrophy is reached before 55 days, and subsequent changes are minor. The degree of atrophy is almost as intense as that noted in the hypophysectomized castrate animal with an ovarian transplant in the spleen (2). The transplanted ovary shows no evidence of any type of response to the hormonal influence that has stimulated the ovary that remained in situ. Removal of the normal ovary introduces the hormonal imbalance that was present in the original tumor animals. The atrophic ovarian parenchyma in the spleen in these, as well as in the hypophysectomized animals previously reported, retained its growth potentials and responded to the hormonal forces by assuming the changes that characterized the development of the luteoma. The action of the atrophic ovarian parenchyma is reminiscent of malignant cell deposits that may remain dormant or quiescent for long periods and then, for some unknown reason, suddenly undergo growth.

Inactivation of Methyl Testosterone in Castrate Male Rats

Summary and Conclusion Methyl testosterone, like testosterone propionate, does not exert its specific effect on the genital organs of castrate male rats when implanted in pellet form in the spleen. When the pellet is placed in the transplanted spleen, with the splenic vessels ligated, the specific effect returns. As both androgens appear to be destroyed in the liver, it is suggested that the differences in the specific effects of these two substances when administered orally may be due to different routes of absorption from the intestinal tract (e. g., via the lymphatics), rather than different sites of inactivation.

Inactivation of Estrone in Normal Adult Male Rats

Summary and Conclusions Pellets of estrone were implanted in the subcutaneous tissues, the spleen, and the transplanted ligated spleen, respectively, of groups of normal adult male rats. At the time of implantation of the pellet the right testis was removed in half the number of animals of each group. Marked atrophy occurred in the testes and related genital organs when the pellet was present in the subcutaneous tissues or in the transplanted ligated spleen. No changes occurred in these organs when the pellet was present in the normally situated spleen, indicating that when the absorbed estrone passes through the liver of normal adult male rats before reaching the organs it specifically affects, it is inactivated.

Inactivation of Estrone in Normal Male Rabbits

Summary The liver of normal male rabbits has the ability to inactivate estrone as shown by the presence of normal testicles and genital apparatus in a group of three animals examined 91 days after the implantation of estrone pellets in the spleens. Alterations in the structure of the testicles in rabbits with subcutaneously implanted pellets corresponded to the changes found in similarly treated male rats, and to the changes produced by experimental cryptorchidism in rabbits.

Inactivation of Testosterone Propionate by Normal Female Rats

Summary Anestrus occurred as long as a pellet of testosterone propionate was present in the subcutaneous tissues of normal female rats. No significant changes occurred in the estrous cycles of normal adult female rats when pellets of testosterone propionate were implanted in the spleen in which the normal portal circulation was intact. When the blood from the spleen containing a pellet of testosterone propionate entered the systemic circulation without passing through the liver, estrus was inhibited. The technical assistance of Ruth Helmuth is gratefully acknowledged.

Effect of pregnancy on the rat ovary transplanted to the spleen.

Summary In 24 rats the left ovary was transplanted to the spleen, and between 40 and 50 days later they were permitted to become pregnant. Six animals were sacrificed at the termination of pregnancy, and in all the intrasplenic ovary showed distinct proliferation of new follicles, and only one of these in addition contained a corpus luteum. Nine animals were sacrificed at intervals up to 60 days post partum, and in these the intrasplenic ovary showed progressive atrophy. In another series, the normal right ovary was removed at the termination of pregnancy and groups of 3 animals were sacrificed 10, 31, and 62 days later. The intrasplenic ovary of this series showed progressive enlargement with the continuous formation of new follicles and corpora lutea, and there was no evidence of involution of the latter. In this experiment, the gonadotrophic hormones of pregnant rats produced primarily follicular activity in the intrasplenic ovary, while simultaneously in the normally situated ovary corpora lutea were formed and maintained.