FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRODUCTION AND ACCUMULATION OF UTERINE LUMINAL FLUID IN THE RAT

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The effects of estradiol and its metabolites, estrone and estriol, on uterine luminal fluid production and accumulation in ovariectomized rats were studied. Estradiol administration caused fluid accumulation in ovariectomized or hypophysectomized rats but not in unoperated animals. Estradiol was considerably more active than estrone or estriol in causing fluid accumulation. Fluid retention was antagonized by progesterone, which caused lass of the fluid through the cervix. Fluid production was unaffected by progesterone. Evidence was obtained which indicated that the capacity of estrogens to produce the uterotrophic and fluid responses may be mediated by separate mechanisms.