Changes in pituitary secretion during the early postnatal period and anovulatory syndrome induced by neonatal oestrogen or androgen in rats.

The following experiments were performed: (i) concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin in plasma were measured at 2, 5, 8, 10 and 15 days in female Wistar rats treated on the first day of life with 100 micrograms oestradiol benzoate or vehicle; (ii) females injected on day 1 with 100 micrograms of oestradiol benzoate or 1 mg of testosterone propionate and from day 1 to day 10 or 15 with FSH and LH were killed on day 90; (iii) females injected from day 1 to day 10 or 15 with prolactin or vehicle were killed on day 90; (iv) females injected on day 1 with oestradiol benzoate and from day 1 to day 15 with a luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist were killed on day 90; (v) groups of females injected on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 with an LHRH antagonist were killed on day 90. Onset of puberty, vaginal cycles, organ weights and hormonal plasma concentrations were measured. Females treated on the first day of life with 100 micrograms oestradiol showed inhibition of gonadotrophin secretion and stimulation of prolactin secretion during the neonatal period. Females injected on the first day of life with oestradiol benzoate or testosterone propionate showed, in adulthood, anovulation, ovarian atrophy, reduced FSH plasma concentrations, increased prolactin plasma concentrations and reduced pituitary prolactin content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)