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PSUEDOPREGNANCY AND THE DECIDUAL CELL RESPONSE IN THE RAT
Citation:
Cummings, A. PSUEDOPREGNANCY AND THE DECIDUAL CELL RESPONSE IN THE RAT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-91/282 (NTIS PB92126895), 1991.
Description:
Pseudopregnancy, an induced physiological state in the rat which mimics the rodent's luteal phase, can be used to assess the impact of chemicals on the luteal phase of female animals. emale rats can be induced to be pseudopregnant by a variety of methods and assessment of the successful initiation and maintenance of pseudopregnancy is accomplished via vaginal cytology. he decidual cell response is a technique in which pseudopregnant rats undergo a surgical treatment of their uteri to induce uterine differentiation and proliferation. his results in massive tissue growth which mimics the response of the uterus during normal blastocyst implantation. Measurement of decidual growth during chemical treatment can be used to assess both hormonal status and uterine function. terine weight serves as a sensitive measure of the success of the decidual cell response.