Pinealectomy-induced changes in blood and pituitary luteinizing and prolactin levels during the last phase of pregnancy in rats.

Serum LH levels were higher in pinealectomized than in sham-operated control rats during all 4 of the last days of pregnancy studied, although reaching significance only during the final 2 days, 21 and 22. Prolactin (Prl) levels in the serum on the final day of pregnancy, and its contents in the pituitary throughout the entire study period, were significantly lower in pinealectomized rats. Pituitary weights were lower in pinealectomized than in control animals during days 21 and 22 of pregnancy, but no differences were found between the 2 groups in the average number of living foetuses and resorptions. The results presented would seem to indicate that during the last phase of pregnancy the pineal gland plays a role in the modification of gonadotropin synthesis and release. It appears that with LH the release, and with Prl mainly the synthesis, is being affected by the pineal, although the release of Prl may be influenced as well.