PREGNENOLONE AND PROGESTERONE CONCENTRATIONS IN OVARIAN VENOUS BLOOD OF THE ARTIFICIALLY OVULATED SQUIRREL MONKEY (SAIMIRI SCIUREUS)

The secretion of pregnenolone and progesterone by artificially stimulated ovaries was studied. Ovulation was induced in 17 sexually immature squirrel monkeys by PMSG-HCG injections and pregnenolone and progesterone concentrations were determined in the ovarian venous blood by thin-layer and gas chromatography. 50 IU PMSG administered twice daily for 9 days was supplemented during Days 6-9 by twice daily injections of 250 IU HCG. The animals were killed 2 or 5 days after the last injection. 3 controls were injected with isotonic saline. There was a significant increase in the ovarian (left and right) and uterine weights in 16 of the 17 animals 2 days after treatment (p=.05; p