Impairment of the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis of the athymic "nude" mouse.

Pituitary and serum levels of LH and FSH and hypothalamic GnRH content were measured in acyclic, congenitally athymic (nu/nu) female mice. No significant differences were found between athymic and normal dioestrous mice of the same age (3 months). The serum LH level of the athymic mouse failed to increase 6 days after ovariectomy, but increased in response to injection of GnRH. The results suggest that the athymic nude mice suffer from impairment of hypothalamic control of the pituitary.