Cervical mucus arborization : a preliminary study of its use in assessing ovarian hormone levels in the ewe : a thesis presented at Massey Agricultural College in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in the University of New Zealand

Abstract

Many of the gross physiologicial processes affecting reproduction in animals have been elucidated. The availability of the ovarian hormones in relatively pure form has further allowed the confirmation of their role. It is apparent that there is general agreement and confidence in the findings of much of this work, as is shown by the increasing application of steroids to animal production. However, in the main the investigations so far reported have been of a qualitative nature only. It is thus apparent that for a thorough understanding of the basic mechanisms controlling reproduction it will be necessary also to study in detail the quantitative changes in hormone levels and their associated effects [From Introduction]