Vascularization of Ovaries from Golden Hamsters Following Implantation into the Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane

<i>In </i>order to study the angiogenic activity, entire ovaries of immature or adult golden hamsters in different functional stages were implanted into the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Ovaries or other organs (heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal gland, testis) were applied during days 9–14 of incubation. Histological serial sections and ultra-structural studies displayed vascularization from the host to the ovary. Vascularization was marked for unstimulated immature ovaries compared to superstimulated immature ovaries or adult ovaries obtained during the period of proestrus-estrus. When no vascularization developed, grafted ovaries of immature or adult animals induced a mild erosive reaction of the CAM. In contrast, few other implanted organs obtained from immature animals caused a response with vascularization which was absent in grafted organs from adult hamsters. The erosive reaction of the CAM was rare, but the ulcerative response accompanied by infiltrating eosinophils was frequently seen both in immature and adult animals. These results may indicate that angiogenetic activity of the ovary is not the sole cause for vascularization of grafts. Other factors such as tissue death or a low histocompatibility barrier are likely to be involved.