Changes in the concentrations of plasma luteinising hormone (LH), prolactin, androgen and progesterone were measured during the ovulatory cycle of the turkey. 2. Single pre-ovulatory peaks of plasma LH, androgen an progesterone were observed which took 8, 8 and 12 h respectively, to increase and return to base-line values. The concentration of plasma prolactin tended to be elevated between 6 h before and 6 h after the LH peak with the maximum values occurring after the peak. 3. The changes in the concentrations of plasma LH and progesterone were 3- and 7-fold respectively while 2-fold changes were observed in the concentrations of plasma androgen and prolactin. 4. The pre-ovulatory concentration of plasma progesterone and prolactin began to decrease 4 and 6 h respectively, after the pre-ovulatory peak of LH. 5. Ovulation and oviposition occurred 6 to 8 h and 36.10 +/- 0.57 h (SEM) (n = 11) respectively after the pre-ovulatory peak of LH. 6. In birds kept on 14 h light/d, pre-ovulatory peaks of LH were initiated only during a 10 to 11-h period starting within 2 h after the onset of darkness. 7. A comparison between these data and those from the fowl suggest that the egg is retained in the turkey's oviduct for about 3 to 4 h longer than in the fowl.
