Effects of naloxone and morphine on the proestrous surge of prolactin and gonadotropins in the rat.

The effects of naloxone hydrochloride and morphine sulfate on the proestrous surge of PRL and gonadotropins (LH and FSH) were investigated in normal cycling Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood samples (0.45-0.50 ml) were withdrawn without anesthesia every 20 min from 1400-2000 h through an atrial cannula implanted the same morning. RIA revealed that a single iv injection of naloxone (0.2 mg/kg) at 1400 h completely suppressed the surge of PRL, and this was reversed by a concomitant injection of morphine (10 mg/kg). Morphine itself did not alter the peak of the PRL surge. Morphine suppressed only the early phase of the LH surge, and this was reversed by naloxone. Naloxone alone did not change the peak of the LH surge but maintained higher levels than controls during the declining phase. The FSH surge was not altered by either morphine or naloxone. These results suggest that endogenous opioid peptides may have a role in regulating the PRL and LH surges during proestrus in the rat.