EFFECT OF A PITUITARY GONADOTROPHIN ON THE OVARIES OF HYPOTHYROID RATS

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Abstract
Immature rats were fed propylthiouracil or were thyroidectomized for periods up to 70 days. A gonadotropin was given at the end of each experimental period. Ovarian response to gonadotropin varies with the dosage and length of treatment and is modified by prior thiouracil treatment or thyroidectomy. When of short duration thiouracil reduces the gonadotropic effect; when of longer duration, the response to gonadotropin is much greater than found in control animals. Thyroidectomy results in an increased response to gonadotropin, and ovarian weights in some instances are even greater than in the thiouracil treated. Increased ovarian response to gonadotropin is a qualitative rather than a quantitative effect and is apparently caused by a luteinizing rather than a follicular stimulating factor.