title: Effects of alloxan-induced diabetes on corpus luteum function in the pseudopregnant rat.
abstract: The effects of alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus on rat ovarian structure and function were examined throughout pseudopregnancy (PSP). Animals received either saline (C) or alloxan (40 mg/kg) treatment on the day of proestrus (PA) preceding PSP or on day 1 (D-1A) of PSP (day 0 = ovulation). Serum samples were analyzed by radioimmunoassay for progesterone (P) and 17-beta-estradiol (E) levels and compared with the corresponding changes in ovarian and uterine weights in C, PA, and D-1A rats. In addition, the effects of daily treatment with 6 IU ovine insulin (AI) on serum P levels were assessed in D-1A-treated rats and compared with controls. Alloxan treatment effectively elevated blood glucose levels (P less than or equal to 0.01) in PA and D-1A groups as compared with controls or AI rats. Alloxan treatment reduced both ovarian and uterine weights of PA and D-1A groups as compared with C and AI rats. Serum P levels were significantly reduced in PA (P less than or equal to 0.01) and D-1A (P less than or equal to 0.05-0.01) rats as compared with control rats throughout PSP. Daily insulin treatment reversed the suppressive effects of D-1A treatment on serum P levels, but did not restore luteal function to control levels. Neither C nor D-1A groups exhibited any marked differences in serum E levels throughout PSP. The results of these studies indicate that the administration of alloxan before the onset of PSP effectively inhibits luteal function, whereas D-1A treatment induces early luteolysis as compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011359:Proestrus; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol