Concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin following transection of the pituitary stalk in ovariectomized ewes

Two experiments (Spring and Fall) were conducted in ovariectomized ewes to determine changes in pituitary hormone secretion immediately after pituitary stalk-transection. Ewes underwent either pituitary stalk-transection (SS), sham-transection (SH) or administration of anesthesia only (AO). Stalk-transected, but not sham-operated or anesthetized ewes had polyuria and polydipsia for 7 to 14 days after surgery. Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin were measured in peripheral blood samples collected every 10 minutes for a six-hour period. Results were comparable for each season. During the six hours following surgery or removal from anesthesia, concentrations of LH declined in all ewes, but more slowly in SS ewes. No differences in patterns or mean concentrations of FSH were observed. Immediately after surgery, concentrations of prolactin were elevated, then declined in SH and SS ewes. The decrease was greater in SH than SS ewes. Data are consonant with the view that hypothalamic inhibition as well as LHRH stimulation regulate gonadotropin release by the pituitary.     

Luteinizing hormone and growth hormone secretion in ewes infused intracerebroventricularly with neuropeptide Y

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) provides an important hypothalamic link between nutritional status and neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating growth and reproduction. The objective of the following series of experiments was to determine the effects of single or continuous administration of NPY on secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and (or) growth hormone (GH). In experiment 1, four ovariectomized (OVX) ewes and four OVX + estrogen-treated ewes each received, in a 4 x 4 Latin Square arrangement of treatments, a single injection of 0, 0.5, 5, or 50 microg NPY via an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) cannulae to determine the effects on secretion of GH. NPY significantly elevated serum GH at the 50 microg dose regardless of estrogen exposure (P = 0.003). In experiment 2, eight OVX ewes were infused i.c.v. with NPY or saline (n = 4/trmt) continuously for 20 h in a linearly increasing dose, ending at 50 microg/h NPY. Blood samples were collected via jugular cannulae every 10 min during hour -4-0 (interval 1, pre-treatment), hour 6-10 (interval 2) and hour 16-20 (interval 3) relative to the initiation of infusion (0 h). Mean LH and LH pulse frequency were lower in NPY- versus saline-infused ewes during intervals 2 and 3 (P < 0.01), but NPY had no discernable effect on serum GH (P > 0.10). In experiment 3, four OVX ewes were continuously infused with NPY as in experiment 2, except that the maximum 50 microg/h dose was achieved after only 10 h of infusion. Blood samples were collected every 10 min, beginning 4 h before and continuing until 4h after the NPY infusion. Mean serum LH changed significantly over time (P = 0.0001), decreasing below pre-treatment levels by hour 3 of NPY infusion (P < 0.01), and returning to pre-treatment concentrations following the end of infusion (P > 0.15). Serum GH also changed significantly over time (P < 0.001). Mean GH levels tended to be greater than pre-treatment levels by hour 2 of infusion (P < 0.08), but thereafter returned to basal levels. Serum GH also increased following the end of NPY infusion (P < 0.03). From these data we conclude that NPY exerts a persistent inhibitory effect on secretion of LH, and may stimulate the secretion of GH during the initiation and cessation of infusion of NPY. These observations support a role for NPY in mediating the effects of undernutrition on both LH and GH, and also provide evidence for potential mechanisms by which leptin, acting through NPY, may stimulate the secretion of GH.     

Dopaminergic-like activity in toxic fescue alters prolactin but not growth hormone or thyroid stimulating hormone in ewes

Studies were conducted to determine the specificity and cause of altered pituitary hormone secretion when ewes ingest endophyte-infected (Acremonium coenophialum) GI-307 tall fescue (toxic fescue). Plasma concentrations of prolactin (PRL) but not growth hormone (GH) or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in ewes grazing toxic fescue were significantly lower (P < .01) than concentrations measured in ewes grazing orchardgrass (OG). Comparing hormone secretory responses of ewes grazing each grasstype, ewes on toxic fescue released less PRL following thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) challenge than ewes on OG. TSH responses to TRH were not affected by grasstype. At this dose of TRH, GH secretion was not significantly affected in either group of ewes. In a separate study, dopamine hydrochloride (DA) was infused into control ewes to define the effect of a pure dopamine agonist on basal and TRH-stimulated secretion of PRL, GH and TSH. DA depressed both basal and TRH-stimulated secretion of PRL without affecting the basal concentrations or responses of GH or TSH. Based on the assumption that the active agent in toxic fescue responsible for the observed hypoprolactinemia was a dopaminergic agonist, haloperidol (HAL), a DA receptor blocking drug, was administered to ewes grazing toxic fescue or OG. HAL evoked significant PRL secretion unaccompanied by any GH or TSH effect in both toxic fescue and OG ewes. Administration of HAL resulted in a gradual increase over 4 hr in PRL in toxic fescue ewes and prolonged the duration of the PRL response to TRH. No differences in circulating plasma concentrations of DA, epinephrine or norepinephrine were measured in ewes on troxic fescue or OG.

Alterations in pituitary hormone secretion due to toxic factors in fescue were confined to PRL. Hormone secretory responses to TRH and HAL suggest that the effects on PRL are mediated through dopamine-like activity in toxic fescue.     

Luteinizing hormone in nutrient-restricted ovariectomized ewes

This study was designed to evaluate profiles of serum concentrations of LH, pituitary content of LH and GnRH receptors, and hypothalamic content of GnRH in undernourished, ovariectomized ewes. In earlier studies, pulsatile secretion of LH diminished as duration of undernutrition progressed in prepubertal or adult ovariectomized ewes. Ewes having similar body condition scores (CS) of 5 to 9 (1 = extremely thin, 5 = moderate, 9 = obese) were fed maintenance or low-energy diets (100% and 60% of NRC requirements, respectively). Blood samples for analysis of LH were collected at 15-min intervals for 4 h at initiation of the project and immediately prior to slaughter. Serum concentrations of LH did not differ (P greater than .05) among groups at the initial sampling period. At slaughter, ewes with CS less than or equal to 2 (n = 7) had lost 26.8 kg (42% of initial weight). Ewes with CS greater than or equal to 3 (n = 12) had lost an average of 13.7 kg (18% of initial weight). Concentrations of LH in ewes with final CS greater than or equal to 3 was similar (P greater than .05) to that observed during the initial sampling period. However, release of LH was reduced (P less than .01) in ewes with CS less than or equal to 2 compared with ewes with CS greater than or equal to 3 (2.6 vs 9.5 and 3.2 vs 10.5 ng/ml for basal and mean concentrations, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endogenous opioid modulation of luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion in postpartum ewes and cows

A possible role for endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) in the control of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion was studied by injecting the opioid antagonist, naloxone (NAL), into postpartum ewes and cows. Twelve ewes that lambed during the fall breeding season and nursed their lambs were injected iv with NAL (1.0 mg/kg) on d 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 postpartum. Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals from 2 h before to 2 h after NAL, and serum concentrations of LH and PRL were quantified. Following treatment on d 10, suckling lambs were removed from 6 of the 12 ewes, creating non-suckled (NS) and suckled (S) treatment groups for subsequent study on d 14 through 26. On d 10, NAL treatment increased LH (P less than .01) but concentrations of PRL were not affected. When averaged across d 14 to 26, post-NAL concentrations of LH were greater (P less than .001) than pre-NAL concentrations (6.5 +/- .7 vs 1.9 +/- .4 ng/ml). In contrast, concentrations of PRL in the post-NAL period were lower (P less than .001) than pre-NAL concentrations (129 +/- 15 vs 89 +/- 10 ng/ml). Compared with S ewes over d 14 to 26, those in the NS group had similar pre-NAL concentrations of LH, tendencies for higher (P less than .10) post-NAL concentrations of LH, lower (P less than .001) mean serum concentrations of PRL (pre- and post-NAL) and similar pre-NAL vs post-NAL differences in serum PRL. Six suckled beef cows on d 24 to 35 were injected iv with either saline or NAL (.5 mg/kg) in a replicated crossover design. Injections of NAL increased serum concentrations of LH (P less than .05), when averaged over all 12 injections in the six cows, but serum PRL was not changed. However, three of six cows did not respond to NAL with increases in serum LH. These non-responding cows were similar to the responding cows in their pre-injection concentrations of LH and PRL, but they tended (P = .10) to have higher serum concentrations of cortisol than responding cows.     

Patterns of secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone in stallions during the summer and winter

Samples of jugular blood were drawn from each of five stallions every 15 min for 12 h during the summer and winter to determine the short-term fluctuations in plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone. Concentrations of LH and FSH were generally not pulsatile, although one stallion exhibited three distinct pulses in these hormones during the winter. In general, patterns of secretion of all three hormones were similar in both seasons and the number of significant rises in hormonal concentrations did not differ between seasons. Concentrations of LH and FSH were positively correlated (P less than .05) for eight of the ten sampling periods, indicating a close relationship between the secretion rates of these two gonadotropins. Testosterone concentrations varied in an episodic manner during the 12-h period, and all stallions exhibited at least one episode of high testosterone secretion regardless of the pattern of LH concentrations. The response in testosterone concentrations to the three LH pulses exhibited by the one stallion in winter was not the same for each pulse. The correlations between a single random sample and mean concentrations over the 12-h period were high (r between .88 and .99) for all three hormones, indicating that a single sample of blood would be representative of overall concentrations. It appears that the stallion differs from males of other domestic species in that concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone vary in a much less pulsatile manner.     

Plasma concentrations of luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, androgen, growth hormone, prolactin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine during growth and sexual development in the cockerel

Changes in concentrations of plasma luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), androgen, growth hormone (GH), prolactin (Prl), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were measured during growth and sexual maturation in broiler cockerels reared in continuous light to 7 weeks and 14 h light/d thereafter. Concentrations of LH and FSH began to increase between 13 and 15 weeks, while those of androgens increased between 16 and 17 weeks. FSH concentration increased faster than that of LH. Concentrations of GH and Prl were high at 3 weeks; that of GH decreasing progressively between 3 and 14 weeks of age and thereafter remaining low, while that of Prl was low between 5 and 9 weeks, relatively high between 10 and 13 weeks, and then temporarily decreasing before increasing progressively during sexual maturation. Concentrations of T3 and T4 were higher in juvenile than in adult birds.     

Effects of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin on secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin in ovariectomized, pituitary stalk-transected ewes

Two experiments were conducted in ovariectomized, pituitary stalk-transected ewes to determine if dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (5-HT) alter secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL). In experiment 1, ewes were infused (iv) with saline (control), DA (66 micrograms/kg/min), NE (6.6 micrograms/kg/min) or 5-HT (6.6 micrograms/kg/min). Treatments did not alter pulse frequency, but 5-HT increased (P less than .05) amplitude of pulses of LH and mean concentrations of LH, DA and NE were without effect on basal secretion of LH. DA but not NE or 5-HT decreased (P less than .05) the release of LH in response to gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH, 25 micrograms, im). Concentrations of FSH were not affected by treatments. Secretion of PRL was reduced (P less than .05) by treatment with DA and NE but not 5-HT. Each amine reduced (P less than .05) the release of PRL in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; 3 micrograms, im). In experiment 2, ewes were given DA at doses of 0, 0.66, 6.6 or 66.0 micrograms/kg/min, iv. No dose altered basal LH, but each dose reduced (P less than .05) basal and TRH-induced release of PRL. Key findings from these studies include direct pituitary action for: (1) 5-HT enhanced basal secretion of LH, (2) suppression of GnRH-induced secretion of LH by DA. (3) DA and NE inhibition of PRL secretion, and (4) DA, NE and 5-HT inhibition of release of PRL in response to TRH.     

Concentrations of prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in pituitary and serum of horses: effect of sex, season and reproductive state

Pituitary and serum from 86 male or female horses of various reproductive states were collected in the normal breeding season (summer) and in the nonbreeding season (winter) at a commercial slaughterhouse. Concentrations of prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and reproductive steroids in serum and gross appearance of the reproductive tract and gonads were used to catagorize reproductive state. Concentrations of PRL were higher (P less than .01) in summer than in winter in pituitary and serum of mares, stallions and geldings. In summer, mares had higher (P less than .01) concentrations of PRL in serum than stallions. In mares, concentrations of LH in pituitary were higher (P less than .05) in summer than in winter. Concentrations of LH in serum were higher (P less than .01) in summer than in winter in mares and geldings, higher (P less than .01) in mares than in stallions in summer, higher (P less than .01) in geldings than in stallions in summer and higher (P less than .01) in mares with low serum progesterone (P) concentrations than in mares with high P concentrations in summer. Concentrations of FSH in pituitary and serum did not differ between summer and winter for any type of horse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Testosterone propionate treatment of stallions: Effects on secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in daily samples and after administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone

Ten stallions were used to determine if the stallion responds to administration of testosterone propionate (TP) with an increase in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion after administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) as has been previously observed for geldings and intact and ovariectomized mares. Five stallions were treated with TP (350 μg/kg of body weight) in safflower oil every other day for 11 days; control stallions received injections of safflower oil. The response to GnRH (1.0 μg/kg of body weight) was determined for all stallions before the onset of treatment (GnRH I) and at the end of treatment (GnRH II). Blood samples were also withdrawn daily from 3 days prior to treatment through GnRH II. Treatment with TP decreased (P<.10) concentrations of FSH in daily blood samples. However, treatment with TP did not affect (P>.10) the GnRH-induced secretion of FSH. Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) decreased (P<.05) in daily blood samples averaged over both groups of stallions and were lower (P<.10) in TP-treated stallions than in controls during the latter days of treatment. We conclude that TP administration to stallions does not alter the FSH response to GnRH as has been observed for geldings and for mares of several reproductive states.     

Thyroid stimulating hormone and prolactin secretion after thyrotropin releasing hormone administration to mares: Dose response during anestrus in winter and during estrus in summer

The response of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) concentrations to administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was determined in light-horse mares during the anestrous season (winter) and during estrus (standing heat) in the summer. Within each season, mares (4/group) were treated with either saline (controls) or one of four doses of TRH (80, 400, 2,000 or 10,000 ug) intravenously. Samples of blood were drawn at −15, −.5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 min relative to TRH injection. Concentrations of TSH and PRL in pre-TRH samples were greater (P<.05) in anestrous mares during winter than in estrous mares during summer. Concentrations of TSH increased (P<.05) within 30 min after administration of TRH and remained elevated during the 4-hr sampling period. The maximal net change in TSH concentrations and the area under the response curve were greatest for 2,000 ug of TRH; 80 ug did not produce a significant TSH response. There was no interaction (P >.10) between reproductive state and TRH dose for TSH concentrations. Concentrations of PRL were not significantly affected by any TRH dose during either season. It appears that mares differ from many mammalian species in that they do not respond to an injection of TRH with increases in both TSH and PRL.     

Growth and carcass characteristics and serum growth hormone, prolactin and insulin profiles in Debouillet lambs treated with ovine growth hormone and(or) zeranol

Sixteen Debouillet wether lambs (approximately 3 mo old) were placed indoors in 1.5- x 3-m pens (14 h light:10 h dark) 28 d after weaning. Lambs received no implant or a 12-mg zeranol implant on d-2 (eight lambs/group). Two days later (d 0), animals received either 0 or 2.5 mg ovine growth hormone (oGH, eight lambs/group) s.c. on alternate days for 42 d. Animals had ad libitum access to water, salt, mineral and a pelleted alfalfa diet (16% CP). After 42 d, lambs were slaughtered to evaluate carcass traits, organ weights and femur characteristics. Zeranol by oGH interactions were not detected (P greater than .20). Zeranol increased (P less than .05) BW, improved (P less than .05) feed:gain during the first 20 d and increased (P less than .10) feed intake during the last 22 d of the 42-d trial compared with controls. Carcass characteristics were not altered (P greater than .10) by 12 mg zeranol. Serum insulin and prolactin were elevated (P less than .05), but serum GH was not influenced by zeranol compared with controls. Exogenous oGH decreased feed intake (P less than .10) and improved feed:gain (P less than .05) during the initial 20 d compared with controls, but did not influence (P greater than .20) these variables during the last 22 d of the study. Carcass traits were not influenced (P greater than .10) by oGH. Exogenous ovine GH dramatically elevated (P less than .05) serum GH, but did not affect serum insulin or prolactin (P greater than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Luteinizing hormone and growth hormone secretion in early lactating Spanish beef cows

The episodic release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormones (GH) was studied in three suckling regimens and two breeds of Spanish suckled cows. Parda de Montaña (PA) cows (n = 21) were assigned to once‐daily, twice‐daily or ad libitum (ADLIB) suckling. Pirenaica (PI) cows (n = 7) were used to evaluate the breed effect in twice‐daily suckling. Coccygeal blood samples were collected twice weekly during lactation to determine the interval from calving to first ovulation through peripheral progesterone. On day 32 ± 3 post‐partum, jugular blood samples were drawn at 15 min intervals during 8 h to analyse circulating LH and GH. The interval to first ovulation was greater in PA cows suckling ADLIB than in restricted suckling treatment (RESTR1), whereas in RESTR2 it did not differ from the other two treatments. There were no differences between PA and PI cows in the interval to first ovulation. RESTR1 cows showed a tendency to have shorter LH peak widths than ADLIB cows. PA cows showed a tendency to have longer LH peak widths than their PI counterparts. There were no differences across treatments or breeds in any of the GH measures of secretion. The LH release was more affected by breed than by suckling frequency, whereas that of GH was not influenced by any of these parameters. The variables that best allowed discrimination between ADLIB and restricted nursing systems were the interval to post‐partum first ovulation, LH peak number and the mean GH concentration.     

Effect of dosage and frequency of injection of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone on release of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in estradiol-treated steers

The objective was to determine how estradiol (0 vs 1 mg) and changes in the dosage of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH; 1,000 ng/steer vs 1 ng/kg body weight) and frequency of LHRH injection (25 vs 50 min) affect LH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) release in steers. In steers pretreated with estradiol peak concentrations of LH in serum after LHRH averaged 14.4 ng/ml, which was greater (P less than .001) than peak concentrations in steers given oil (7.4 ng/ml). Increasing the dosage of LHRH from 1 ng/Kg body weight (approximately or equal to 300 ng/steer) to 1,000 ng/steer increased (P less than .001) peak LH values from 7.5 to 14.4 ng/ml. Furthermore, increasing the frequency of LHRH injections from once every 50 min to once every 25 min increased (P less than .001) LH release, but only in steers given estradiol. Estradiol reduced basal concentrations of FSH by 65% and then increased LHRH-induced FSH release by 276% (P approximately .07) relative to values for steers given oil. Only when 1,000 ng LHRH was given every 25 min to steers pretreated with estradiol were LH and FSH release profiles similar to the preovulatory gonadotropin surges of cows in magnitude, duration and general shape. The results demonstrate that increases in the dosage or frequency of LHRH pulses increase LHRH-induced release of LH, but not of FSH. Furthermore, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that in cows, estradiol increases responsiveness of the gonadotrophs to LHRH and then increases the magnitude and frequency of pulses of LHRH secretion beyond basal levels, thereby causing the preovulatory gonadotropin surges.     

Progesterone and Luteinizing hormone secretion patterns in early pregnant gilts

We studied luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility and episodic progesterone release of the corpus luteum (CL) on Day 11 and Day 21 in inseminated gilts and aimed to establish a relationship between these two hormones. Blood was collected at 15-min intervals for 12 hr on Days 11, 16 and 21 from a vena cava caudalis catheter. At euthanasia, eight gilts were pregnant and six gilts were not pregnant. Progesterone parameters (basal, mean, pulse frequency and pulse amplitude) did not differ between pregnant and non-pregnant gilts on Day 11, LH pulse frequency and amplitude tended to differ (p = .07 and p = .079). In pregnant gilts, basal and mean progesterone, progesterone pulse amplitude and frequency declined significantly from Day 11 to Day 21 (p < .05). A significant decline was also seen in the LH pulse amplitude from Day 11 to Day 21 (p < .05). None of the LH pulses was followed by a progesterone pulse within 1 hr on Day 21. On Day 11 and Day 21 appeared a synchronicity in the LH pulse pattern, as there were two or three LH pulses in 12 hr and these LH pulses appeared in the same time window. We conclude that on Day 11 and Day 21 of pregnancy in gilts, progesterone pulses do not follow an LH pulse within one hour. Further we demonstrated that the successful or not successful formation of a CL of pregnancy is independent of progesterone release on Day 11 after insemination. We confirmed the decline of progesterone from Day 11 to Day 21 in the vena cava caudalis and could demonstrate that this decline is partly due to lower progesterone pulse amplitude and frequency and that the decline occurs simultaneously with a decline in LH pulse amplitude.