Site of modulatory action of oestrogen and progesterone on gonadotrophin response to luteinizing hormone releasing factor.

The effect of oestrogen and progesterone on the spontaneous release of gonadotrophins and on the gonadotrophin response to luteinizing hormone releasing factor has been examined in female rats subjected to hypothalamic deafferentation or pituitary stalk section. The results indicate that both steroids act at the level of the medial basal hypothalamus as well as the anterior pituitary gland; progesterone, for its full effect, also requires the integrity of connexions of the hypothalamus with other areas of the brain.