AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSAY OF GONADOTROPHIN BY THE INDUCTION OF OVULATION IN IMMATURE MICE

Abstract

SUMMARY An assay method depending on the induction of ovulation in immature mice has been applied to the assay of human urinary gonadotrophin, human chorionic gonadotrophin, pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin, and sheep and rat pituitary gonadotrophins. Valid parallel line assays were obtained in all cases, and the sensitivity and precision of the assay were such as to make it suitable for application to clinical studies. Experiments with mixtures of gonadotrophins, and the use of a barbiturate to suppress gonadotrophin secretion, indicate that the assay was not specific for LH. It is suggested that the lack of specificity may be due in part to the secretion of a variable amount of gonadotrophin by the pituitaries of the test animals.