Abstract
Summary
Serum levels of LH and FSH were measured in the pregnant rabbit utilizing homologous assays for rabbit gonadotropins. Results show that following mating, serum LH rose to peak levels by 2 hr postcoitum, returned to estrous levels by 12 hr, and remained at low levels through the duration of pregnancy. Serum FSH also exhibited a preovulatory surge at 2–3 hr after mating, returning to precoital levels by 12 hr. In contrast to serum LH, however, a second surge of serum FSH occurred at 1–2 days of pregnancy at a time when serum LH was not elevated. Following the second peak, serum FSH also remained low through the remainder of pregnancy.
We are indebted to the National Pituitary Agency for the rabbit LH and FSH radioimmunoassay kits. We also wish to thank Mrs. Kathy Maxwell and Miss Karyle Di Crispino for preparation of the manuscript. This work was supported in part by NIH grant 5 SO1 RR05365-13.
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