Difference in the response of follicular maturation and ovulation between early and late lactating rats after removal of the litter

Abstract

ABSTRACT The mechanisms responsible for the 24-h difference in the time of the next ovulation after litter removal between early and late lactating rats were investigated. At 11.00 h on day 5 of lactation, concentrations of oestradiol-17β and inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma were lower than those on day 17, corresponding to the absence of healthy Graafian follicles. After removal of the litter on day 5 of lactation a small surge of FSH with a steady increase in basal levels of LH occurred to initiate follicular maturation, and ovulation occurred 4 days later. After removal of the litter on day 17 of lactation a surge of FSH was not observed, due to high levels of inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma, until the time of preovulatory surges of gonadotrophin which occurred 2 days later and resulted in ovulation the next morning. Prolactin concentrations decreased similarly in both groups abruptly after removal of the litter. A decrease in plasma concentrations of progesterone occurred 42 h after removal of the litter on day 5, though it occurred 18 h after removal of the litter on day 17. These results indicate that the 24-h delay of ovulation after litter removal on day 5 of lactation, as compared with the time of ovulation after litter removal on day 17, is due probably to the absence of healthy antral follicles and high activity of corpora lutea secreting progesterone at the time of litter removal. J. Endocr. (1987) 113, 271–276