Uterine and fetal growth following unilateral hysterectomy-ovariectomy in ewes.
The left uterine horn and ovary (UHOX; n = 25) or just the left ovary (UOX; n = 18) were excised from mature ewes to investigate growth capabilities of the uterus and uterine capacity effects on fetal growth in sheep. The remaining right uterine horns were excised from 5 UHOX ewes on day 13 of the second successive estrous cycle following initial surgery and were compared to 11 left uterine horns previously obtained from UHOX ewes during the midluteal phase of the estrous cycle. Uterine and endometrial content of DNA, RNA, protein, and number of myometrial nuclei indicated that removal of the left uterine horns resulted in hypertrophy of the right uterine horns. The conception rate of the remaining 20 UHOX ewes was lower than of the 18 UOX ewes. However, at 140 days of gestation, there appeared to be no uterine capacity effects on fetal growth.
D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D002369:Castration; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006128:Growth; D007044:Hysterectomy; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000254:growth & development*