A single ovary of Anolis carolinensis responds more to exogenous gonadotropin if the contralateral ovary is absent.
The lizard Anolis carolinensis exhibits asymmetric ovarian growth. At any given time, the larger ovary (LO) contains a larger follicle than does the smaller ovary (SO). Physiologically hypophysectomized females with quiescent ovaries were treated with gonadotropin (ovine FSH) or saline vehicle after either surgical removal of the LO or sham operation. The smaller ovaries of initial control, sham-operated, and hemiovariectomized (HO) females were similar in weight and follicular size. Therefore, endogenous gonadotropin secretion remained at subthreshold levels during the experiment and after HO. FSH significantly stimulated ovarian follicular growth in both sham-operated and HO females. However, the response of the SO of HO females to FSH was significantly greater than that in sham-operated females. These results demonstrate a greater sensitivity of the SO to FSH if the LO is absent.
Roth
J J
JJ
Department of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309.
Jones
R E
RE
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone