title: The effect of denervation on compensatory ovarian hypertrophy.
abstract: Hemiovariectomized rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups: controls, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HD)-treated, abdominal vagotomy, 6-HD-treated plus abdominal vagotomy and pelvic parasympathectomy. 15 days later all animals were sacrificed and the amount of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy (COH) was calculated. Vagotomy and vagotomy plus 6-HD treatment interrupted estrous cycles and significantly decreased COH. Vagotomized rats with both ovaries intact had disrupted estrous cycles but ovarian weights were not affected. In a subsequent study, rats in estrus were sham-operated, unilaterally ovariectomized (ULO), vagotomized, or vagotomized + ULO, and serum levels of LH and FSH were determined at 5 and 24 h. ULO caused a significant (p less than 0.05) increase in LH and FSH at 5 h. Vagotomy significantly (p less than 0.05) depressed LH and FSH levels in hemiovariectomized animals at 5 h. By 24 h LH was significantly higher in ULO than in either sham-operated (p less than 0.05) or vagotomy (p less than 0.01) groups. Also, vagotomy significantly (p less than 0.01) depressed FSH levels at 24 h. These results suggest a functional role for the vagus nerve in normal cyclic activity, COH, and gonadotrophin (Gn) secretion.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D002369:Castration; D003714:Denervation; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000294:innervation; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone