Asymmetry in the ovary and uterus of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).
On Day 9 of pregnancy (day of mating = Day 1), the number of corpora lutea in the right ovary was greater than that in the left (mean +/- s.e.m. 9.3 +/- 0.1 and 6.5 +/- 0.3 respectively; N = 70). Although the percentages of ova fertilized on the left and right side were not different (82% and 94%), the percentage wastage was higher on the left side (20%) than the right (14%). A significant difference in sperm numbers in the right (2.8 X 10(6] and the left (0.5 X 10(6] uterine horns were found 1.5 h after mating in 51 females. Morphometric measurements of the lower uterine luminal size showed that the right side (103.9 mm3) was larger than the left side (88.9 mm3; N = 5). It is obvious that there is structural and functional asymmetry in the ovary and uterus in the golden hamster.
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology