Relationship between corticosteriods and fertility in female albino rats

The aim of the present study investigate the effect of methyle prednisolone Acetate (MPA) on puberty and fertility in female albino rats. Special interest was directed tostudy the effects of MPA on the reproductive organ, conceptionproducts pituitary and serum FSH and LH contents.Immature female rats 3 weeks old were divided into threegroups. The first group was injected i.m. weekly for fourweeks with saline (10 rats). The second was injected i.m. with 1.0 mg MEA once every week for four weeks and the third group was injected with 2 mg of the same preparation.Mature female rats ~ere divided according to the vaginalsmears inestrus and diestrus rats. Each group was sub- divided into ”Control group” and ”MPA injected group”.Groups of pregnant female rats were divided into three stagesnamely :-early (5 - 6 days), mid (12 - 13 days) and late pregnancy (18 - 19 days).~ach group of these was divided into two sub-groupd; one group was injected with 0.2 ml. saline ”Centra;1. group” the other half was injected with 1.0 mg. lUPA on two successive days before slaughtering.Rabbit antiserum to corticosterone was injected into the tail vein of a group of rats on day 18 and 19 of pregnancy.