Effects of an LH-releasing hormone antagonist on the secretion of LH, FSH, prolactin and ovarian steroids at different stages of the luteal phase in the stumptailed macaque (Macaca arctoides)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The role of the pituitary gonadotrophins in controlling luteal function in the stumptailed macaque has been investigated by examining profiles of serum concentrations of LH, FSH, progesterone and oestradiol in daily blood samples from 13 monkeys during the menstrual cycle, and in blood samples taken at hourly intervals between 09.00 and 21.00 h on different days of the luteal phase in 13 cycles. The effects of acute withdrawal of gonadotrophins was investigated by administering a single injection of 300 μg LHRH antagonist/kg body weight at different stages of the luteal phase during 28 cycles. Although there were high basal values and marked fluctuations of bioactive LH during the first 4 days after the LH peak, progesterone profiles showed no corresponding short-term changes, there being a slow and steady rise in progesterone concentrations during the sampling periods. After day 5, basal LH secretion decreased, but high amplitude LH pulses were identified which were associated with episodes of progesterone secretion. Administration of the LHRH antagonist caused a suppression of bioactive LH and progesterone concentrations at all stages of the luteal phase, although some basal secretion of progesterone was maintained through the 24-h period of effective antagonist gonadotroph blockade. Luteal function recovered apparently normally in all monkeys treated in the early–mid-luteal phase. Serum concentrations of FSH and oestradiol fluctuated comparatively less during the 12-h sampling periods, and the antagonist had less suppressive effects on the concentrations of these hormones. The LHRH antagonist had no apparent effect on prolactin release. It appears that the corpus luteum is relatively unresponsive to the high serum LH concentrations during the early luteal phase, but that responsiveness increases as the corpus luteum develops. The corpus luteum is, however, susceptible to withdrawal of LH not only in the mid–late luteal phase when the relationship with LH is apparent, but also during the early luteal phase. J. Endocr. (1986) 111, 83–90