Bromocriptine-induced implantation failure in mice: failure of the stud male to protect pregnancy.

The presence of the stud male failed to prevent implantation failure in newly inseminated females induced by administration of bromocriptine. This is in contrast with the ability of the stud male to prevent implantation failure in females induced by alien male exposure, and nutritional stress. Since bromocriptine is a potent inhibitor of hypophysial prolactin release by virtue of its stimulatory effect on hypothalamic dopaminergic activity, the results suggest that the stud male-originating luteotrophic stimulus is incapable of overriding the dopaminergic activity in bromocriptine-treated females.