GONADOTROPHIN REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPLANTATION IN THE MOUSE

Abstract

SUMMARY Gonadotrophins were injected into mated hypophysectomized and suckling mice in an attempt to induce implantation. In these two classes of animal implantation is normally delayed by absence or suppression of pituitary gonadotrophin release. Antibodies raised against ovine gonadotrophins were injected into mice soon after mating in an attempt to inhibit implantation. Pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) was effective in inducing implantation in both hypophysectomized and in suckling mice. This may mean that a gonadotrophin with the qualities of PMSG normally initiates implantation. Alternatively, PMSG may have been effective by virtue of its long half-life rather than any special hormonal attributes. Human chorionic gonadotrophin was ineffective in both types of mouse. Mixtures of ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (100 μg of each), injected daily for 3 days, were necessary to induce implantation in hypophysectomized mice. Implantation was readily induced in suckling mice by a single injection of FSH (equivalent to 12·5 μg NIH-FSH-S3) prepared from rat pituitary glands. Implantation was readily inhibited by anti-ovine LH. Anti-ovine FSH was ineffective but this did not cross-react with mouse FSH.