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The tissue levels of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) during the estrous cycle and pregnancy were investigated in the pig. Sexually mature female cycling pigs were used. One animal was sacrificed on estrous cycle days 3, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20 and during pregnancy on day 11. 12, B. 14, 18, 19, 20, 48, 50 and 52. Tissues from the hypothalamus, pituitary, uterus, ovary and skeletal muscle were removed. They were homogenized in buffer, and supernatants were used for measurement of protein concentration and ODC activity. The release of ^14CO_2 from radiolabeled ornithine was proportional to the amout of protein added over the range of 0.125~4mg and to the incubation time. ODC appered to have some relationship with the biological functions of the pituitary, ovary and uterus during the reproductive period, especially on day 19 of the estrous cycle, while it showed no such activities in hypothalamus and skeletal muscle of mature pigs. Uterine tissues had significantly more ODC activity than other tissues tested(p < 0.05).
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