Effect of neonatal oestrogen and hCG treatment on the genital organs of adult female rats

The ovaries and the uterine as well as vaginal mucous membranes of 80-, 180 - and 365-day-old intact female rats and females neonatally treated with a single dose of oestrogen and repeated doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were studied. Numerous follicles, interstitial cells and corpora lut ea (CL) were present on the ovary of intact females from 80 up to 365 days of age. The number of primary and secondary follicles decreased in the inta ct female rats between Day 180 and Day 365 of life. On the ovaries of 180- and 365-day-old female rats neonatally treated with oestrogen, interstitial glandular cells and cystic follicles predominated. No CL were present on t hese ovaries. The height of epithelial cells of the uterine and vaginal muc ous membranes increased in intact female rats from 80 to 365 days of age, w hereas in oestrogen-treated females the height of epithelium decreased. Fro m 80 up to 365 days of age, the height of epithelial cells of uterine and v aginal mucous membranes of rats neonatally treated with repeated doses of h CG was similar to that in the corresponding control animals.