[Alpha-fetoprotein and blockade of the sexual cycle]

During chemical hepatocarcinogenesis by N-2 fluorenylacetamide in adult female Rats, vaginal cycle alterations were observed after 30 days of carcinogenic diet, and a blocking at the metestrus stage appeared from the 70th day. This may be explained by the very low serum progesterone level prevailing after the 50th day. An important drop in ovary weight was also noticed; together with the blocking of follicular maturation and ovulation leading to a marked follicular atresia. Simultaneously, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) seems to interact in the lowering of progesterone level, and AFP was found ten times higher in the serum of treated animals than in controls. AFP was localized in degenerative oocyte cytoplasm by immunofluorescence in the treated animals, but not in the controls. In conclusion, a blocking role of AFP on genital cycles and a relationship between AFP and follicular atresia are suggested.