Inhibition of Gonadotropin Release in Chimpanzees by the LH-RH Antagonist (D-Phe 2,D-Trp 3,D-Phe 6 )-LH-RH

Abstract

Summary

Thirty-five mg of the LH-RH antagonist (D-Phe⁶, D-Trp³, D-Phe⁶)-LH-RH inhibited the LH response of chimpanzees given 10 μg of LH-RH to 33% of the amount released by control animals. Seven mg of the same analog also attenuated the LH response, but the inhibition was not statistically significant. Neither dose level of the inhibitor significantly altered basal gonadotropin levels. These data indicate that LH-RH antagonists have at least an acute ability to diminish the response to exogenous releasing hormones without acutely affecting basal gonadotropin secretion. They further suggest that a non-human primate model may be used to test the efficacy of these compounds as potential contraceptive agents.