The Effect of Mating on the Afternoon of Proestrus on Serum LH (and FSH) and Ovulation in the Rat

Abstract

Summary

Coitus between 1700 and 1730 caused more ova to be ovulated than in unmated rats. It is clear that cardiac puncture (CP) 0.5 hr after mating inhibited the increases in the number of ova ovulated as a result of mating. Cardiac puncture also lowered terminal LH levels in the no mate group in comparison to the levels in the no mate—no CP group. Serum LH in the early evening of proestrus and terminal LH and FSH serum levels were not increased by mating. In earlier studies coitus between 1800 and 1830 increased the number of ova ovulated, while in the present study coitus was effective between 1700 and 1730. Cardiac puncture in combination with mating affects ovulation and LH levels differently than does CP subsequent to pentobarbital blockade of ovulation.