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Weights of the body, ovaries, and uterus; estrous cycles and the contents of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in the hypothalami, and testosterone in blood plasma of GC females were studied at various estrous stages (diestrus and estrus). The outbred Wistar line was used as a control. In addition to reduced body weight in GC females, we observed disturbed morphological cyclic linkages between the ovaries and uterus: ovary weight reduction in diestrus (p < 0.01) and lower estrogen-related increase in uterus weight in estrus in GC females in comparison with Wistar ones. While the contents of DA and NE in GC hypothalami were reduced, the levels of these monoamines were high in estrus and low in diestrus. Testosterone levels in GC female plasma in diestrus were higher than in estrus or in Wistar rats.

This investigation was aimed at the evaluation of the shape and myoarchitectonic of of lymphangions in the uterine broad ligament in humans and albino rats. The lymphangion length and width was evaluated with further lymphangion volume determination, and number of myocytes in the muscular cuff was counted in the preparations containing 100 collector lymphatics obtained from 30 women aged 25-40 years and in 100 similar vessels taken from female albino rats. Most of lymphangions in the uterine broad ligament were found to have ellipsoid shape. In the rat, the lymphangions are longer and narrower with lesser volume and myocyte content in the muscular cuff, than those in humans. Short and round lymphangions with more transverse orientation of myocytes are often present close to ovary. In the angle between the uterus and the uterine tube (uterine horn in rat), single large lymphangions of collector or collector-distributive types with many processes are found. The correlation between uterine broad ligament lymphangion shape, structure and myoarchitectonic of their muscular cuffs with their location and relative width was observed.

We studied the capacity of cattle oocytes taken from ovaries with different morphofunctional state for development to metaphase 2 in vitro. A classification of ovaries has been proposed according to their morphofunctional state: (1) ovaries with a yellow body from the last cycle, without dominating follicle, with many follicles of varying diameter; (2) ovaries with a yellow body from the last cycle, with dominating follicle (from 10 mm in diameter); (3) ovaries with a large functioning yellow body and follicles of varying diameter; (4) ovaries with a follicular cystoid formation (more than 25 mm in diameter); (5) ovaries with a yellow body from past cycles and small (1-2 mm) follicles, supposedly with a weakened hormonal function. It was shown that the morphofunctional state of ovaries determined the total number of oocytes isolated from an ovary and number of morphologically normal oocytes feasible for cultivation. At the same time, no reliable differences in the capacity for extrusion of the first polar body between the oocytes from the ovaries of different types were found in the experiments on in vitro oocytes maturation. Since the coefficient of correlation between the extrusion of the first polar body and maturation to metaphase 2 was in 0.95, there is every reason to believe that the capacity for development to metaphase 2 does not depend on the morphofunctional state of ovaries.

The general morphology of the internal genital organs in Myobia murismusculi females have been studied by means of light and electron microscopy. It is shown, that their reproductive system is composed of the single ovary, long complex oviduct, cuticular vagina and receptaculum seminis. The apical region of the ovary is formed by the numerous processes of gonadian somatic cells. These cells generate the ovarian sheath and probably take place in oocyte's metabolism. Any nutritive cells in the Myobia ovary are absent. The vitellogenetic oocytes develop in the ovarian pouches like in other trombidiform mites. The oviduct consists of three parts, each of them has a specific ultrastructure and type of secretory product. Two proximal parts of the oviduct produce the egg-shell components, while the third distal part never contains oocytes. It could be suggested that this part produces a special secret onto the oocyte surface to glue the oocytes to the hairs of host.

The correlation and cluster analysis revealed that the brain weight of the rat 21-day-old foetus obviously depended on 3 beta-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase activity in adrenal cortex. No such dependence was found in 1-day-old foetus. Thickness of the brain cortex in 21-day-old foetus and in 1-day-old rat correlated with parameters of the enzyme activity in the corpus luteum, corpus atretic, and theca folliculi of mother's ovaries.

Bilateral parovarian pathology experimentally induced in 15 female rabbits decreased the hormonal activity of their ovaries as manifested in shrinking of both ovaries, reduction of the follicles number, lowering of the level of blood estradiol and progesterone, alteration of a colpocytological pattern.

Experiments were performed on Wistar rats to evaluate comparatively the morphological and functional state of the ovaries in the early and late-term periods after a single injection of a platinum-containing cytostatic drug platidiam and an antibiotic of the anthracycline series farmorubicin. It was found that the antineoplastic agents caused a similar toxic effect on the animal's sexual glands. The number of generative elements in the ovaries decreased in this case and the duration of the estrous cycle, the indices of embryonal death, and the pregnancy index increased.

In this paper, we have attempted to use the technique of superovulation in mustelids. Ermine (Mustela erminea) and several species of ferret (Mustela eversmanni, Mustela putorius, Mustela putorius furo [correction of hamster (Putorius eversmanni, Putorius putorius, Putorius putorius furo)] have been used as experimental models. We have conducted a detailed study of superovulation and early embryonic development in animals of these species treated with PMSG [correction of GPMS]. We have shown that superovulatory response is produced only in the right, but not in the left ovary of hormonally treated animals. Embryonic development in hormonally stimulated animals was accelerated as compared with animals that were reproducing under natural conditions. Perspectives and limitations in the use of hormonal treatment with the purpose to induce superovulation in mammals are discussed.

On the base of the complex of experiments modeling disfunctional states of the thyroid gland were proved the most importance of the thyroid gland hormones in regulation of development and histophysiology of the ovary. There were analyzed possible mechanizmes by with thyroid gland hormones influence on this biological processes and its role in general system of the neurohumoral regulation of sexual function.

Reflexo-ovulating rabbits appeared to have oestrous and ovarian 11-12-day cycles. The condition of external sexual organs revealed the hormonal status and ovarian folliculogenesis, being an adequate index of the cycle stage. No release of preovulatory gonadotropin or spontaneous ovulation occurred in natural oestrus due, probably, to inadequate production of the pituitary gonadotropins and to low progesterone level in the blood during oestrus.

The method of interstitial injections followed by preparation was used to investigate the regional lymph nodes of the ovaries located in the retroperitoneal space in 18 preparations from corpses of women of different age. The permanently occurring (in all the cases) precaval lymph node, regional for the right ovary and permanent lateral aortal lymph node, regional for the left ovary were determined. The shape, syntopy, skeletotopy of these nodes are described. Their sizes are determined. It was established that the level of localization of both the precaval and lateral aortal lymph nodes displaced downward with age relative to the vertebral column. However, the level of localization of the permanent lateral aortal lymph node, regional for the left ovary is higher than the precaval lymph node regional for the right ovary irrespective of the age. The distance from the place of localization of permanent lymph nodes to the vertebral column axis increases with age. For example, the precaval lymph node in early childhood is at a distance of 9 +/- 0.4 mm (8-10 mm), in the second period of childhood at a distance of 14 +/- 0.8 mm (13-15 mm), and at the first period of adult age at a distance of 24 +/- 2.9 mm (20-27 mm) to the right from the vertebral column axis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The ovaries of rats which are progeny of females subjected to unilateral ovariectomy 1.5-2 months before mating were studied by methods of morphometry and histochemistry. The animals were divided into 3 age groups (5 days, 3.5-4 and 10 months). Their ovaries were shown to differ from gonads of rats in control groups. The differences were concerned with the main parameters characteristic of female gonads: their mass, amount of follicles, intensity of their atresia. Possible mechanisms responsible for the differences in question are discussed.

Morphological features of gonads of diploid Bufo viridis and tetraploid B. danatensis from 15 localities of USSR (453 spec.) were investigated. Females with the rudimentary ovaries were found among polyploid toads from south Turkmenia. The toads from Tajikistan having the external features of males usually demonstrated a specific kind of lateral gynandromorphism: a single side testes and rudimentary ovaries (with the normal ovarioles). The observed facts are treated either as a result of hybridization of recent species or as a result of originality of genomes organization.

An effect of a 40-day hypokinesia produced by the stay of the white mongrel female rats in the small cages on their reproductive system was studied. The data being indicative of the involvement changes in the ovaries which appear as the decreased mass of an organ and qualitative alterations of its structures (depletion of germinate stroma, decrease in volumetric part of the follicles) have been obtained with the use of radioimmunologic technique, light-optical methods and quantitative analysis of tissue specimens. In this case, the yellow bodies become dominant structures in the ovary. A comparison of structural changes with progesterone and estradiol concentrations revealed a pronounced hormonal insufficiency of the follicles and yellow bodies.

The experiments on the immature female rats were carried out to show the effects of damage or stimulation of the lateral septal nucleus (LSN) on the ovary function and its response to chorionic gonadotrophin. The damage of the LSN decreases the ovary weight, but enlarges mature ovarian follicles and increases the estrogen production. LSN lesions in hypophysectomized rats have no effect on the ovary and uterus weights as compared to hypophysectomized ones, but decrease the size of mature ovarian follicles against a background of hypophysectomy or LSN lesions. Damage of the LSN increases ovary and uterus sensitivity to the chorionic gonadotrophin injections. A conclusion is drawn on the existence of parahypophysial way to transfer the influence of LSN on the rat ovaries. The possible mechanisms of LSN influence on the reproduction system of female rats is under discussion.

Studies of 98 newborn ovaries included measurements of their mass, estimation of follicle number in a standard section size, of the integral parameter reflecting the total number of follicles in the ovary and the count of follicular cells adjacent to the oocyte in the primary follicle. The count of follicular cells was found to be a permanent value, not related to the newborn's mass; ovarian mass, number of follicles in a standard section, and the integral parameter were growing together with the newborn's mass, changing within the range from 900-1000 to 2500-4000 g, increasing particularly intensively within the body mass range of 1000 to 2500 g. In fetuses weighing 2500-4000 g, dead from multiple developmental defects, these characteristics are essentially lower than in those dead from birth injuries.

During its fluvial life, the ovarian follicular epithelium of Lampetra fluviatilis undergoes polarity formation--in the animal hemisphere the follicular epithelium is flattened, in the vegetative--it undergoes a secretory specialization: as the secrete is accumulating, the follicular cells increase in volume and height, acquiring a cubical form. In connection with monotonous or differentiating morpho-physiological alterations of follicular epithelium within a single follicle during the period of rapid oocytic growth, it is suggested to widen the idea on kinds of its secondary transformation in the vertebrates. It is suggested to differ: 1) common secondary transformation, when secondary flattening (for example, in birds) or secondary specialization (for example, in fish demersal roe) embraces the whole epithelium of the follicle. In case of common secretory specialization, it can be a) isomorphous--at identical convertion of the epithelium in the whole follicle (for example, in sheatfish), b) dimorphous--when there is a certain difference in the character and degree of secretory specialization of the follicular epithelium in various follicular areas (for example in Myxine glutinosa); 2) unipolar secondary transformation when the follicular epithelium undergoes secondary flattening or secretory specialization only in the area adjacent to one of the oocyte poles (for example, in Lametra fluviatilis and Blennis follis). Follicular epithelium of the lamprey testis, unlike in other Anamnia, does not form spermatocysts; implantation of spermatids and spermia into cytoplasm of the follicular cells is not observed. Thus, histological structure of Cyclostomata testis is at a lower stage of development than in other Anamnia.

The classificatory scheme of morphofunctional description of ovariole system of blood-sucky mosquitoes has been elaborated. The formalized procedure for diagnostic of females reproductive status based on the ovary morphology has been described. Using this scheme a new method for estimation of reproductive age of mosquito females has been suggested. The analysis of the diagnostic quality of the reproductive age has been conducted using given method.

The biological action of deep freezing (-196 degrees C) on the ovary with the purpose of establishing the possibility of using low temperatures for long-term storage of this tissue was studied. The use of polyethylene oxide of molecular weight 400 at an optimal concentration (20%) for freezing at a rate of 1 degree per minute to -8 degrees C, then 10 degrees/min to --196 degrees C permits to retain the functional activity of the ovary and restoration of its function after transplantation.

Morphodynamics of follicular epithelium in oogenesis of 3 species of sharks and one species of skates studied is characterized by transformation of follicular flattened unilayered epithelium into columnar unilayered and false pseudostratified epithelium which subsequently undergoes secondary flattening and loses its false pseudostratification. In skates, during the process described above, the follicular epithelium becomes anisomorphous at the expense of differentiation of some follicular cells into large ones with two bipolar processes. Developmental and structural similarity of false pseudostratified follicular epithelia in sharks and birds, as well as similarity of anisomorphous follicular epithelia in skates and Squamata are considered as a certain demonstration of histological parallelism in the development of follicular epithelia of Vertebrata. On the other hand, large cells of anisomorphous follicular epithelia in skates and Squamata and trophocytes of polytrophic ovarioles in insects, in their relation to oocyte, are considered as analogous structures giving an example of histological convergency.

Histological and histochemical methods were used to study the ovaries of Greenland seal (Pagophoca groenlandica) from birth-time up to 30 years of age and mature females of Phoca vitulina and Erignathus barbatus. The ovary of the new-born Greenland seal has fetal medullary substance which is a provisory endocrinous gland producing not only sex hormones but also corticosteron. In other species of seals the intestinal cells of the medullary substance are the equivalent of this gland. Within 3-4 weeks after birth the reduction of the fetal medullary substance is completed, it is substituted by the connective tissue and the ovary acquires its typical structure. The rest of the fetal medullary substance is in the depth of the cortex and near the infundibulum of the ovary as lipofuscincontaining cells. When the maturation period approaches, the process of the follicle atresia regularly changes: the epithelium dies quicker, and the multiplication of intestinal cells increases. The ovaries of seals are rich in interstitial cells. Their amount cyclically changes. The cells producing steroid hormones always well hydrolize AS naphthyl-phosphates, the reaction with glycerophosphate is more variable. The connective tissue is poor in acid mucopolysaccharides, its amorphous substance in the ovary cortex is rich in protein. Senile changes of the ovary are noticed in the seal beginning from 20 years of age.

Female mice 3 and 22-24 months of age were jointed in heterochronic parabiosis. That led to permanent estrus in young mice and maintenance of intact anestrus in old mice. After 8-9 weeks of parabiosis there appeared morphological signs of accelerated ageing in the ovaries of young animals, while no changes in the ovaries of old mice were observed. Serum progesterone of young partners decreased to the levels of old animals and estradiol levels remained unchanged, while prolactin content in adenohypophysis was the same as in young single animals but exceeded the level noted in young mice in parabiosis with young partners. Hormone content in old parabionts remained unchanged, as compared to the control. An old organism is thought to be the source of unidentified factors suppressing the ovarian function in young animals.

A topography of the genital system of Metastrongylus elongatus is described in comparison with the genital system of Dictyocaulus viviparus. It is established that in these species of helminths the genital tubes have a similar location but in Metastrongylus elongatus takes place an uterus lenthening caused by the transference of the genital orifice to the hind end of the body. Its total length is 2.5 as long as the body length of the worm. This phenomenon is regarded as an adaptation providing this species a possibility to produce eggs which can for a long time exist in the environment.

The long duration of the estrous cycle, the absence of the ovulated oocytes was observed in histomorphological studies of estrous cycles and ovaries in hr rhY-/hr rhY-mutants of B10-hr rhY mice strain. The absence of mutation division, ovulation and corpora lutea in ovaries was found in contrast to normal isogenic B10 females. The extragonadal cause of hairless mutant female infertility was shown. The effective method of mutant strain B10-hr rhY reproduction by using the transplantation of homozygous hairless female ovaries to isogenic recipients (+/+ or +/hr rhY) was proposed.

Morphofunctional peculiarities of ovarian development in 1- and 4-day-old rats have been studied under conditions of their transplantation into mature female rats. In 30 days in transplants of both series of the experiments atretic process develops. Better preservation of the general pool of the germ cells and follicles is obtained at transplantation of the ovaries from the 4-day-old donors; their ovocytes at the operation time are at the stationary state of meiosis prophase. Ovocytes of 1-day-old animals, being at the stages of early prophase, are more vulnerable at homotransplantation.

Morphogenetic and histogenetic changes in the ovaries of Citellus citellus during the postnatal period and hibernation (September- March) at the age of 10, 25, 45 days and 2 to 12 months after birth were studied. Significant cellular and tissue-organoid differentiation processes were established. After birth oogonia enter the prophase I of meiotic division. At the end of the first month, oocytes with enlarged cytoplasm and single layer of satellite cells form the primary follicles. The growing follicles with organizing antrum are formed in the third postnatal month. During the same time, theca foliculi is observed. Between the 3d and the 6th months after birth the authors demonstrate a "stage ox isofolliculia" when the follicles stop undergoing further development. During the winter hibernation, the ovarian follicles continue to grow slowly and at the end of this period, preovulatory follicles are formed. The results reported demonstrate Citellus citellus ovary to be an organ of intensive cell-tissue reconstruction during the postnatal development and hibernation period determined by the ovarian histophysiology, the ovarian steroid hormones production and the hormonal activity of other glands and organs of the endocrine system.