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Glucocorticoids secreted by the foetal adrenal cortex play a major causative role in initiating parturition in the sheep and goat (Liggins, 1968, 1969a; Bassett & Thorburn, 1969; Comline, Nathanielsz, Paisey & Silver, 1970; Thorburn, Nicol, Bassett, Shutt & Cox, 1972). However, Liggins (1969b) failed to precipitate premature parturition with dexamethasone (4 mg/h) infused into the maternal circulation of the pregnant ewe. Fylling (1971) produced delivery with 6–10 mg dexamethasone/day in the pregnant ewe. Since it is uncertain what role glucocorticoids may play in polytocous species, an attempt was made to initiate parturition by infusing cortisol into the maternal circulation of the pregnant rabbit. Cortisol was chosen as the glucocorticoid for infusion since in the newborn rabbit the plasma cortisol: corticosterone ratio is about 3·0 (K. W. Malinowska, R. N. Hardy & P. W. Nathanielsz, unpublished observations).

Pregnant rabbits of known gestational age were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone (30–45