Histamine and increased ovarian blood flow mediate LH-induced superovulation in the cyclic hamster

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Abstract
Constant infusion of LH (400 .mu.g NIH-S24) through an osmotic minipump inserted on Day 1 (oestrus) of the cycle in the hamster resulted in spontaneous superovulation (.simeq. 29 ova) at the next expected oestrus, increased blood flow (P < 0.001) to the ovary on Day 3, and slight depletion (0.1 > P > 0.05) of histamine in the ovary. Treatment with antihistamine (alpha-fluoromethylhistidine, an irreversible inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, or cimetidine, an H2 blocker) by injections or by infusion using separate osmotic minipumps significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the number of ova shed in the LH-treated hamsters. Infusion of LH with alphafluoromethylhistidine in the same osmotic minipumps reduced the bioactivity of the LH. Infusion of antihistamine alone did not alter the normal number of ova shed. The results suggest that the LH-induced superovulation involves stimulation of histamine release; the histamine then may increase ovarian blood flow thus allowing more gonadotrophins to reach the ovary.