| Abstract: | Gradually increased radiation doses were applied directly to the ovaries of laparotomized ewes. The effect of these doses was studied as exerted on the qualitative and quantitative changes in the follicular apparatus of the ovaries and adenohypophysis of ewes in anoestrus and upon the recovery processes later on after irradiation. The ovaries irradiated with the dose of 4.79 Gy were found to be heavier when examined after some time from irradiation. The 10th and 30th day from irradiation the number of tertiary follicles decreased, the 100th day from irradiation their number increased to a four-fold level, as compared with the 10th day. Adenohypophysis showed a gradual growth of the number of PAS-positive cells. After the irradiation of ovaries with the dose of 9.57 Gy the ovaries showed the lowest rate of damage on the 10th day from irradiation; the 30th and 100th day from irradiation all the present tertiary follicles were in the state of atresia. In comparison with the control group, the amount of gonadotropic cells of adenohypophysis gradually increased, recovering from a rapid drop after irradiation. When the ovaries were irradiated with the dose of 19.14 Gy, all the tertiary follicles were in the state of atresia and the number of PAS-positive cells of adenohypophysis was lower in comparison with the control group. |
