September 1955]
E.
S.
E.
HAFEZ
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reference to the number and diameters of growing graafian follicles and functioning
or old corpora lutea. The size (average diameter) of the graafian follicle and the
corpus luteum was considered as the mean of three diameters:
(i) length, including the protrusion from the ovarian surface,
(ii) width at right angles to the length, and
(iii) width at 45° to the length. This was done to the two halves of the
ovary exposed by the section. The following two abbreviations are
used in the writing of this article—C. L. ovary: denoting the ovary
with the functioning corpus luteum; N. C. L. ovary: denoting the
other ovary, with no functioning corpus luteum.
Each pair of ovaries were preserved in 10 per cent formalin solution, for histo-
logical studies (serial sections). When the material accumulated, it was drawn and
photographed. This work was carried out at the Animal Breeding Department,
Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt.
RESULTS
Ovaries
The location of the ovaries in relation to the genitalia varied with the re-
productive phase. During non-pregnancy, the ovaries rested upon the superior
surface of the anterior border of the broad ligament of the uterus. In the course of
uterus enlargement during pregnancy, the ovaries were carried out underneath the
genitalia. The feel of the two ovaries during pregnancy was soft, the same as
during non-pregnancy. The two ovaries varied greatly in size and form (Plate VI,
A). The most recent corpus luteum was on the right ovary in 75 per cent of the
cases studied. The resulting conception was in the corresponding uterine horn in
all the cases. There was no indication of ova migration. From early to mid-
pregnancy (the period covered in this investigation), there was no supplementary
corpus luteum besides the one functioning. Graafian follicles in the two ovaries
were visible to the naked eye. Blood spots were never observed.
During pregnancy the C. L. ovary weighed, on an average, from 5.3 to 5.7 gm.
with no significant difference in the five stages of pregnancy. The N. C. L. ovary
weighed from 2.2 to 3.9 gm.; there was a tendency for a decrease in weight with the
advancing pregnancy. The average weight of both ovaries varied from 7.6 to
9.6 gm. The percentage weight ratio of C. L. ovary to N. C. L. ovary ranged from
136 to 245; it was higher during mid-pregnancy than in recent and early pregnancy
(Table II). During non-pregnancy the average weight of C. L. ovary varied from
4.3 to 5.8 gm. whilst the N. C. L. ovary weighed from 3.5 to 4.6 gm. The average
weight of both ovaries ranged from 7.8 to 10.4 gm. and the percentage weight of
C. L. ovary to N. C. L. ovary varied from 123 to 127. The maximum weight of
the two ovaries was during early dioestrus and metaoestrus. The percentage ratio
was always higher during pregnancy than during non-pregnancy. Fig. 1 shows
that the weight of C. L. ovary does not change through recent to mid-pregnancy.
The fluctuating values obtained for the weight of two ovaries (height of the columns)
is due to the fluctuating weight of N. C. L. ovary. However, there seems to be
a trend for the C. L. ovary to be lighter during mid-pregnancy (foetal diameter being
40 cm.) than during recent pregnancy.