Ovarian influence on uterine growth in prepubertal gilts

A determination of age of the prepubertal gilt at which ovaries affect uterine growth is necessary before establishing the extent to which length of uterus is influenced by inherent differences, as opposed to those due to ovarian secretions. In Exp. 1 and 2, the effect of presence of ovaries on uterine growth was determined following ovariectomy in 186 crossbred gilts. The uterus was examined 40 or 80 d after ovariectomy for length, weight and diameter. Growth of uterine horns in gilts from 20 to 60 d of age was equal with or without ovaries. Uterine horns in ovariectomized gilts continued to grow slowly from 60 to 140 d of age and then remained static to 180 d of age. Uterine horns in gilts with ovaries increased rapidly in length, weight and diameter, with concomitant increase in ovarian weight between 100 and 180 d of age. In Exp. 3, uterine growth and ovarian compensation after unilateral ovariectomy and hysterectomy at 60 d of age were determined in 85 crossbred gilts from 60 to 180 d of age to evaluate the unilateral ovariohysterectomy model for studying association of uterine length before puberty and subsequent uterine capacity. In response to removal of an ovary and a uterine horn, the remaining ovary compensated, but the remaining uterine horn did not. This study demonstrated that the ovaries did not influence uterine growth until after 60 d of age and that unilateral ovariohysterectomy could be performed as early as 60 d of age without altering consequent normal uterine growth.