Effects of the ovary, sucking stimulus and season on the pattern of LH and FSH release in the female tammar, Macropus eugenii

Abstract

The sequential effects of removal of the corpus luteum, removal of the non-luteal ovary and sucking stimulus and the effects of season of the year on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) have been determined in the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii. Plasma concentrations of LH and FSH were measured at 15 min intervals for 6 h in eight animals at four successive times in the breeding season (lactational quiescence); (A) while they were intact and lactating, (B) 10 days after removal of the ovary bearing the quiescent corpus luteum, (C) 21 days after bilateral ovariectomy and (D) 21 days after removal of the sucking stimulus, and (E) in the following non-breeding season (seasonal quiescence). Single blood samples were taken twice weekly during lactational quiescence. In the presence of ovarian tissue, basal concentrations of LH were low (0.94 ng mL-1) with pulses of low magnitude (1.3 ng mL-1) and low frequency (1.4 pulses per 6 h). There was no response to luteectomy but all three parameters increased after bilateral ovariectomy. Removal of the sucking stimulus affected the LH pulse frequency but seasonal differences were not evident. The pattern of release of FSH was not pulsatile. There was no response to luteectomy in basal concentrations of FSH but these rose significantly after bilateral ovariectomy (P less than 0.001) in lactational quiescence. There was no effect of removing the sucking stimulus but in seasonal quiescence concentrations were higher. The results indicate that non-luteal ovarian tissue is essential for the negative-feedback effects on LH and FSH secretion, that the pattern of release of LH, but not FSH, is pulsatile, and that there is no marked seasonal change in hypothalamo-hypophysial activity.