OVULATION RATES AND LITTER SIZES IN SEXUALLY RECEPTIVE AND NONRECEPTIVE ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED RABBITS GIVEN VARYING DOSAGES OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE

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Abstract
At any one time a large proportion of individually caged, sexually mature female rabbits failed to copulate. Intravenous administration of purified pituitary luteinizing hormone (PLH) (Armour) produced ovulations in sexually receptive and nonreceptive does alike. Does with histories of infertility ovulated after the injection of PLH. The routine administration of 2.5 mg of PLH to 57 virgin and multiparous Dutch-Belted does averaging 2 to 3 kg, followed by artificial insemination, resulted in 91% of the does kindling and 307 young being born. Administration of either 0.5 mg or 1 mg of PLH per kg to random members of 14 pairs of does, accompanied by artifical insemination, resulted in no difference between the number of ovulations or the number of young per treatment (P>0.05). Fertility and litter size were normal when 16 does were re-injected with PLH and inseminated after weaning their previous litters.