Serum Cortisol and Progesterone after Administration of Adrenocorticotropin and (or) Prolactin to Sheep2

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Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of iv administration of adrenocorti cotropin (ACTH) and(or) prolactin on serum Cortisol and progesterone concentrations in hypophysectomized, ovariectomized, adult ewes. Twenty-four hours after surgery (d 1), six sheep were used in a crossover design and were assigned randomly to receive iv one of four treatments: (I) 200 IU ACTH in 10 ml .15 M NaCl at 0700 h, (II) 2.5 mg prolactin in 10 ml .15 M NaCl at 0700 h and again at 0730 h, 200 IU ACTH and 2.5 mg prolactin in 10 ml .15 M NaCl at 0700 h followed by 2.5 mg prolactin in 10 ml .15 M NaCl at 0730 h, or 10 ml .15 M NaCl (vehicle) at 0700 and 0730 h. Blood samples (5 ml) were collected via jugular cannulae at 15-min intervals from 0600 to 0700 h and starting at 0700 h at 5, 10, 15, 30, 35, 40, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 120 min. Samples were then collected at hourly intervals until 1300 h. Twenty-four hours after commencement of first sampling (d 2), treatments were crossed and samples were collected as on d 1. Administration of ACTH alone or in combination with prolactin increased (P<.01) serum Cortisol and progesterone concentrations. Serum Cortisol or progesterone concentrations were unaffected (P>.05) by administration of prolactin. Copyright © 1983. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1983 by American Society of Animal Science.