Studies on the Cause of Increased Growth During Pregnancy

Conclusions

1. Inasmuch as pseudopregnant rats gain at nearly the same rate as those going through normal pregnancy it would appear that the fetus and its membranes are responsible only in part, if at all, for the increased growth rate of pregnant rats. 2. Progesterone apparently does not stimulate appetite. If the ovary is indirectly involved it may be by depressed estrogen secretion following mating inasmuch as appetite is increased following castration. This increase, however, is not observed until the sixth day as compared to the second day in pregnancy.