Stress or acute adrenocorticotrophin treatment suppresses LHRH-induced LH release in the ram

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of varying treatment durations and doses of ACTH as well as restraint stress on the LH [luteinizing hormone] response to exogenous LHRH were investigated. Injection of 80 IU of a concentrated ACTH preparation at 11, 6, 3 or 1.5 h before LHRH administration was effective in suppressing the LH response. Injection of 40, but not 20 or 10, IU. ACTH 3 h before an LHRH challenge inhibited the magnitude of the LH repsonse, while cortisol values did not vary between ACTH doses. Injection of 200 .mu.g of synthetic ACTH1-24 also resulted in a reduced LH response when given 3 h before LHRH. Restraint stress caused elevated corticosteroid levels and reduced LHRH responsiveness. Stress may cause an inhibition of pituitary gland ability to respond to LHRH by way of an hormonal component of the adrenocortical axis. A glucocorticoid-independent mechanism may be involved. [An inverse relationship between stress and normal reproductive efficiency has frequently been recognized in human and veterinary medicine.].

This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit: