Suppression of ovulation in the rat by an orally active antagonist of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

A synthetic antagonist of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone blocked ovulation in rats in a dose-dependent manner when given by gavage on the afternoon of proestrus. Ovulation was delayed for at least 1 day in all animals given 2 milligrams of antogonist and in some of the animals treated with 1 or 0.5 milligram. Oral administration of 2 milligrams also blocked the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone. This demonstration that antagonists of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone can have oral antiovulatory activity clearly enhances their therapeutic potential.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone: one polypeptide regulates secretion of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones

A polypeptide isolated from porcine hypothalami stimulates the release of both luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitaries of several species. This polypeptide has been structurally identified as (pyro)Glu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH(2) and synthesized. The natural and synthetic materials share biological properties. It appears that this peptide represents the hypothalamic hormone regulating the secretion of both luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.     

Analogs of growth hormone-releasing hormone induce release of growth hormone in the bovine

Biological potencies of three 29 amino acid growth hormone-releasing hormone analogs (GHRH[1-29]) were determined in the bovine and compared to synthetic human GHRH (44 amino acids; hGHRH[1-44]NH2) for their ability to increase serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations. Four prepubertal Holstein heifers (179 +/- 10 kg) received hGHRH(1-44)NH2 or analogs (D-Ala2, Nle27, Agm29 GHRH[1-29], [JG-73]; D-N-MeAla2, Nle27, Agm29 GHRH[1-29], [JG-75]; and desamino-Tyr1, D-Ala2, Nle27, Agm29 GHRH[1-29], [JG-77]) at the following doses: 0, 6.25, 25, 100 and 400 micrograms/animal. All treatment-dose combinations were administered to each heifer with at least a 1-d interval between treatments. Sixteen blood samples were collected via jugular cannulas 20 min before and up to 6 h after treatment injection. There was a linear dose-dependent GH release in response to hGHRH(1-44)NH2 and the three analogs. Growth hormone peak amplitudes for the three analogs were similar to those observed after administration of the hGHRH(1-44)NH2 (P greater than .05). However, when total area under the GH response curves for each treatment was averaged over all the doses, JG-73 stimulated greater GH release than hGHRH(1-44)NH2 (P less than .05) Heifers injected with the 400-microgram dose of hGHRH(1-44)NH2 or the three analogs showed a primary release of GH followed by a secondary release 1 h later. At all other doses, only a primary GH release was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Reduced postpartum anestrus of suckled beef cows treated with microencapsulated luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog.

This study evaluated the effect of microencapsulated LHRH agonist (D-Trp6-LHRH) on gonadotropin release and occurrence of estrus in early postpartum beef cows. Angus cows (n = 54) were assigned randomly to two treatment groups at d 5 postpartum. Group 1 received a single i.m. injection of D-Trp6-LHRH (LHRH-A) encapsulated in poly-DL-lactide-coglycolide, calculated to release 15 micrograms of LHRH-A per day for 30 d (n = 23). Group 2 received vehicle only (control, n = 31). Blood samples (15-min intervals for 6 h) were obtained on d 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 postpartum for evaluation of LH and FSH concentrations (n = 12 per group). Days to first postpartum estrus were reduced by treatment with LHRH-A (Group 1, 43.7 +/- 4.2 d vs Group 2, 55.9 +/- 4.7 d; P < .05). However, days to conception were similar between groups (68.9 +/- 7.9 vs 76.7 +/- 6.7 d, respectively). On the day of treatment, cows treated with LHRH-A had higher mean concentrations of LH and FSH than did controls (8.3 +/- 1.4 vs 2.0 +/- .4 ng/mL for LH and 211.0 +/- 8.6 vs 51.2 +/- 2.7 ng/mL for FSH (P < .05). There were no differences in mean concentrations of LH or FSH between treatment groups on d 10, 20, 30, and 40 postpartum. Cows given LHRH-A had more (P < .05) LH pulses on d 10 and 30 postpartum than did controls. This study demonstrated that microencapsulated D-Trp6-LHRH reduced the postpartum anestrous interval in suckled beef cows.     

Comparison of acetate tape impression with squeezing versus skin scraping for the diagnosis of canine demodicosis

This study compared the sensitivity of acetate tape impression and skin squeezing with that of deep skin scraping for the diagnosis of demodicosis in dogs. Demodex canis was detected in 100% of acetate tape impressions obtained after skin squeezing and in 90% of deep skin scrapings. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between the techniques in the total number of mites detected. Acetate tape impression with skin squeezing was found to be more sensitive than deep skin scraping and is an alternative diagnostic method for canine demodicosis.     

Enterogastrone inhibits eating by fasted mice

In mice fasted for 17 hours, administration of enterogastrone purified from hog duodenum reduced the food intake. This effect was greatest during the first 30 minutes, but the cumulative reduction continued for at least 4 hours. Other peptides prepared from hog duodenum or colon, as well as glucagon, secretin, glucose, and bovine serum albumin, were ineffective.     

Depolarization- and ionophore-induced release of octacosa somatostatin from stalk median eminence synaptosomes

Species of somatostatin of higher molecular weight were present in the nerve terminals (synaptosomes) of ovine stalk median eminences and were released by depolarizing stimuli. One of these species was identified as the biologically active molecule octacosa somatostatin. Octacosa somatostatin appears therefore to be secreted into the hypothalamic-hypophyseal system, supporting the concept of a role for this peptide in regulating pituitary hormone secretion.