Abstract
Summary
The effect of pretreatment with estradiol, progesterone, or a combination of both steroids on the response of serum LH levels to a large dose of LH-RH was investigated. In groups of intact diestrous rats, it was demonstrated that estradiol augmented LH release induced by LH-RH. Progesterone did not block the LH release induced by 1 μg of LH-RH, but suppressed that induced by 0.05 μg LH-RH. In these rats, as well as in intact anestrous ewes, the combination of estradiol and progesterone clearly suppressed the pituitary LH response to LH-RH.
The authors express their gratitude to Dr. W. Locke for his editorial advice, to Dr. G. D. Niswender for the gift of ovine LH antisera, and to Dr. H. Papkoff for the gift of purified ovine LH. The excellent technical assistance of Mrs. Nancy Machen, Mrs. Joan Gauthier, and Mrs. Meredith Nickel is also acknowledged.
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