The release of pituitary gonadotrophins by luteinizing hormone releasing hormone in the intact, castrated and aspermatogenic rat.
The change in serum gonadotrophin concentration in response to synthetic Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH - 400 ng i.v.) was investigated under barbiturate anaesthesia in adult male rats either chronically castrated, rendered aspermatogenic by the administration of alpha-chlorohydrin 12-16 weeks previously (to remove inhibin), or treated with vehicle. A single injection of LHRH increased serum LH and FSH concentrations similarly in both intact and aspermatogenic rats. In castrated rats the amount of LH released was much greater and the FSH secretion sustained. A second injection produced a similar increase although a second peak of FSH could not be detected in castrated rats as the FSH level was still elevated. The increase in LH levels was two to three times larger in response to the second injection of LHRH than to the first in all groups. The results do not support the hypothesis that the enhanced gonadotropin response to castration in the aspermatogenic rat is due to increased pituitary sensitivity to LHRH.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000502:physiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D000517:alpha-Chlorohydrin
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000517:alpha-Chlorohydrin