Evidence that a novel type of progestational phase control occurs in the corn mouse, a South American murid rodent

Most Muridae display a short luteal phase that becomes functional as a consequence of the prolactin release induced by the stimulation of copulation and/or lactation. The corn mouse also shows a short luteal phase, and we wanted to know whether copulation and/or lactation would release prolactin and maintain progesterone secretion in this species. Females in postpartum estrus were either allowed to copulate with an intact male or not, and either to lactate their young or not. Afterward, plasma progesterone was elevated over the baseline level only in females that had copulated and were bearing growing embryos (whether or not they were lactating), while prolactin was elevated only in lactating females. In another experiment, endometrial scratching induced decidualization both in females that had copulated with a vasectomized male and in those that had not copulated; sham operations had no effect in either case. Progesterone levels were elevated in decidualized animals as compared with their sham-operated controls. Results indicate that the initiation of the progestational phase in the corn mouse is not dependent on prolactin release. A short luteal phase during which nidation may occur has not yet been described in any other mammal.