PROLONGED RELEASE BY DIESTRUS RATS OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE DURING THE PERIOD OF OVULATION INDUCED BY LUTEINIZING-HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE

When 1.0 μg luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) was given i.v. three times at 1 h intervals from 17.00 to 19.00 h on the day of dioestrus (day 0) to regular 4 day cyclic rats, premature ovulation was induced the next morning (day 1) with the number of ova present comparable to normal spontaneous ovulation. The next spontaneous ovulation occurred on the morning of day 5, 4 days after premature ovulation induced by LH-RH. Plasma concentrations of FSH and LH showed transient rises and falls within 1 h of administration of LH-RH; concentrations of FSH in the plasma decreased from 20.00 h on day 0 but markedly increased again from 23.00 h on day 0 to 02.00 h on day 1 and these high levels persisted until 14.00 h on day 1, with only a small increase of plasma LH during this period. The duration of increased FSH release during premature ovulation induced by LH-RH treatment was 6 h longer than the FSH surge occurring after administration of HCG on day 0. Surges of gonadotrophin were absent on the afternoon of day 1 (the expected day of pro-oestrus) and the surges characteristic of pro-oestrus occurred on the afternoon of day 4 and ovulation followed the next morning. The pituitary content of FSH did not decrease despite persisting high plasma levels of FSH during premature ovulation induced by either LH-RH or HCG on day 0. The changes in uterine weight indicated that the pattern of oestrogen secretion from the day of premature ovulation induced by LH-RH to the day of the next spontaneous ovulation was similar to that of the normal 4 day oestrus cycle. When 10 i.u. HCG were given on day 0, an increase in oestrogen secretion occurred on day 2, 1 day earlier than in the group given LH-RH on day 0. This advancement of oestrogen secretion was assumed to be responsible for the gonadotrophin surges on day 3. Similar numbers of fully developed follicles were found by 17.00 h on day 2 after premature ovulation induced by either LH-RH or HCG, suggesting that the shorter surge of FSH during premature ovulation induced by HCG had no serious consequences on the initiation of follicular maturation for the succeeding oestrus cycle in these rats. Administration of LH-RH on day O had no direct effect on the FSH surge during premature ovulation. Secretory changes in the ovary during ovulation may be responsible for this prolonged selective release of FSH.