Effects of arginine vasotocin, oxytocin, and arginine vasopressin on steroid-induced surges of luteinizing hormone and prolactin in ovariectomized rats

Abstract

Abstract. Several studies have indicated that arginine vasotocin (AVT), a nonapeptide closely related to vasopressin (ADH) and oxytocin (OT), may act as a pineal antigonadotrophic factor. The present studies were designed to investigate the effects of AVT on the luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (Prl) release induced by sequential steroid priming of ovariectomized (OVX). rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were used 6–8 weeks post-OVX. After implantation of an intra-atrial bleeding catheter, animals were primed with 5 μg of oestradiol benzoate (EB) at 08.00 h on the next morning. Forty-eight hours later 1.5 mg of progesterone (P) was injected and animals were divided into groups which received either saline, AVT (1 of 4 doses), ADH, or OT. The saline or peptides were infused via the intra-atrial catheter at 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, and 13.00 h. Hourly blood sampling was performed at 11.00–18.00 h, and at 21.00 h. The 11.00, 12.00, and 13.00 h samples were taken 10 min after saline or peptide infusion. LH and Prl responses to the peptide infusions could be divided into pre-surge and surge effects. AVT caused a slight, but significant elevation of the normally low levels of LH and Prl which occurred before the onset of their surges. Only the highest dose of AVT (1.0 μg) blocked the LH surge. ADH, however, was capable of stimulating LH and Prl release during the pre-surge period and of inhibiting the LH surge. AVT at a dose of 0.5 or 1.0 μg specifically blocked the onset of the Prl surge, causing Prl to drop to its lowest level at 14.00 h - the time at which Prl levels were maximal in saline-treated animals. After this initial inhibition, however, Prl levels rebounded to show a delayed surge. OT infusion, on the other hand, caused a significant augmentation of the Prl surge. These data indicate that AVT may specifically block the onset of the Prl surge seen after sequential steroid priming of OVX rats, while OT may facilitate the Prl surge.