Passively immunizing ewes against inhibin during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle raises the plasma concentration of FSH.
Passive immunization was used to investigate the importance of inhibin in the negative feedback loop regulating the production of FSH in sheep. An anti-serum raised to the 1-26 peptide fragment of the N-terminus of the alpha-chain of porcine inhibin was first shown to neutralize the suppressive effects of inhibin on the production of FSH by dispersed ovine pituitary cells in vitro. Groups of five mature Scottish Blackface ewes on day 8 of the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle were then injected with either 10 ml plasma from normal ewes (control) or 10 ml ovine inhibin antiserum. On day 10, luteal regression was induced by an i.m. injection of cloprostenol (100 micrograms), and ovulation rate determined 6 days later by laparoscopy. Peripheral plasma samples were collected throughout the experimental period. Following treatment, there was no change in the peripheral plasma concentration of LH in either group. Following injection of the inhibin antiserum, the concentration of FSH rose significantly (P less than 0.001) compared with the control group. The concentration of FSH rose from 1.42 +/- 0.06 to a maximum of 2.58 +/- 0.23 (S.E.M.) micrograms/l by 5.6 +/- 0.9 h, this maximum lasting 9.0 +/- 1.1 h. By 32.8 +/- 6.9 h, the concentration of FSH had returned to pretreatment levels, while the titre of free antibody in the plasma of treated ewes was still high. In the treated ewes, there were one single and four double ovulations compared with three single and two double ovulations in the control group, indicating that the inhibin immunization may have resulted in an increase in ovulation rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mann
G E
GE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh.
Campbell
B K
BK
McNeilly
A S
AS
Baird
D T
DT
D000818:Animals; D004971:Estrus / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007265:Inhibins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008183:Luteal Phase; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone