Ovariectomy of newborn rats: a descriptive surgical procedure.

The ovaries of newborn rats were removed through an opening in the external abdominal oblique muscle, lateral to a dorsal midline skin incision. This approach diminished the incidence of postsurgical hernia by avoiding the exertion of intraabdominal pressure and visceral weight on a ventral midline incision. Loss of abdominal fluid, which usually occurs with ventral midline incision, also was avoided.