
%0 Journal Article
%A Little, DA 
%A Lambourne, LJ 
%T The detection of oestrogenic activity by measurements of nucleic acid concentrations in serial samples of ovine uterine tissue obtained by biopsy
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1976/10/01
%V 27
%N 5
%P 675-679
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9760675
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9760675 
%X The potential occurrence of phyto-oestrogenic activity in tropical pasture species, which are grazed almost exclusively by cattle in Australia, was assessed by a new technique based on changes in the ratio of concentrations of nucleic acids in ovine uterine tissue. Cast-for-age ewes ovariectomized on the 12th day after oestrus were subjected 14 days later to oestrogenic stimulation; samples of uterine tissue were obtained by biopsy before and after the administration of oestrogen. Significant increases in the ratio of nucleic acid concentrations, RNA/DNA, were obtained in response to the administration of 5, 10 and 20 &#181;g stilboestrol dipropionate intramuscularly daily for 3 and 5 days. The variance of the response was mainly affected by the dose of stilboestrol, and a significant effect due to the duration of treatment was detected. It was concluded that the technique will detect levels of phyto-oestrogenic activity substantially below those likely adversely to affect reproduction in cattle. 
