GnRH pulse frequency determines LH pulse amplitude by altering the amount of releasable LH in the pituitary glands of ewes.

We have measured the size of the releasable pools of LH and FSH in the pituitary glands of ovariectomized ewes in which the pituitary was isolated surgically from the hypothalamus. The ewes were given GnRH pulses (250 ng) every hour (N = 3) or every 2 h (N = 3) for 1 week and then given a high dose GnRH infusion (0.5 micrograms/min) for 4 h. Blood samples were collected to characterize the LH and FSH responses to the GnRH pulses and infusion. The LH, but not FSH, responses to the individual GnRH pulses were pulsatile and the amplitudes of the LH pulses were greater in the sheep receiving pulses every 2 h. The sheep receiving hourly pulses showed lower LH responses to the high-dose infusions than did the sheep receiving pulses every 2 h. These data indicate a relationship between the amplitude of LH pulses and the size of the releasable pool of LH in the pituitary gland. As the frequency of GnRH pulses is decreased the amplitude of the LH responses is increased in direct proportion to the size of the releasable LH pool.