title: Influence of pig embryos on uterine growth.
abstract: The influence of embryos on growth of the uterus was determined by comparing uterine length, weight and diameter between gravid and nongravid horns within unilaterally pregnant gilts. Eighty-two prepubertal gilts were ovariectomized unilaterally at 5 mo of age, and the ipsilateral uterine horn was ligated near the junction of the uterine horns. Gilts were mated and were assigned randomly for examination on either d 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 or 27 of gestation. Absolute differences and ratios in length, weight and diameter between gravid and nongravid horns of unilaterally pregnant gilts were analyzed. The gravid horn was 40% longer than the nongravid horn from d 18 to 27. Uterine horns with embryos increased linearly in weight and diameter (P less than .01) between d 15 and 27. Embryos, or the signals that they might give, apparently caused increases in length, weight and diameter of the uterine horn by d 18, but not before.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dziuk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*