Effects of simultaneous active immunization against 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone on pituitary and ovarian activity in the rat.

Female rats were immunized with mixed 17 beta-estradiol-6-carboxymethyloxime-bovine serum albumin and testosterone-3-carboxymethyloxime-bovine serum albumin. All the animals produced antibodies against the 2 haptens and were better immunized against 17 beta-estradiol than against testosterone. Nevertheless the disappearance of cyclic ovarian function was only obtained in animals highly immunized against the two antigens. The 17 beta-estradiol serum concentration increased with the level of immunization whereas the progesterone concentration fell. Persistent vaginal cornification was observed and ovarian lesions (large fluid filled cysts, hemorrhagic follicles and absence of corpora lutea) coincided with increased serum levels of luteinizing hormone and prolactin.