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Embryonic Survival in Adrenalectomized Rabbits following Exposure to Elevated Ambient Temperature and Constant Humidity¹

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

Abstract

The influence of the adrenal gland in the production of early embryonic mortality due to themal stress was evaluated by ovum fertilization and embryo survival in sham operated and adrenalectomized does. The period of exposure to elevated ambient temperature (32.6° C.) and constant humidity (70%) was 48 hr. beginning 7 hr. after mating. The increase in rectal temperatures after the first 17 hr. of exposure was significantly higher in adrenalectomized does than in sham operated does.

In sham operated does, the detrimental effect of thermal stress on fertility was expressed as depression of the rate of implantation of fertilized ova. In adrenalectomized does, damage due to thermal stress was reflected in a lower fertilization rate and an increase in morphologically abnormal ova. The results indicate that adrenalectomy did not improve fertility in does exposed to thermal stress but adrenalectomy altered the point in the reproductive process affected.

¹ This investigation was conducted at the U. S. Department of Agriculture Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland under a cooperative agreement between the U.S.D.A. and the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.

² Present address: Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens.

³ The author wishes to express appreciation to Dr. Harold W. Hawk, U.S.D.A. for his advice in connection with this investigation: to Dr. B. Mackey, U.S.D.A. for assistance with the statistical analyses; and to the Dairy Cattle Research Branch, Animal Husbandry Research Division for the use of facilities.