The effects of prostaglandin and mating on release of LH in the female rabbit.

The release of LH in response to prostaglandin (PG) treatment of female rabbits in various reproductive states was compared with the surge following mating. Intracarotid infusion of PGE-2 or PGF-2alpha (0-3--900 microgram/h) into non-receptive and pseudopregnant does resulted in small, 2--4-fold elevations in jugular vein LH concentration. Similar doses of PGF-2alpha in oestrogen-pretreated, oestrous does stimulated a 13-fold increase in plasma LH levels. Mating resulted in a much larger release of LH, as plasma levels increased approximately 60-fold from 1-1 +/- 0-2 (S.E.M.) ng/ml to 67-8 +/- 10-5 ng/ml. These results indicate that PG can stimulate the hypothalamic-hypophysial axis to release LH in non-receptive, pseudopregnant and oestrogen-pretreated, oestrous rabbits.