The influence of long term estrogen treatment on plasma prolactin levels induced by ether anesthesia in ovariectomized rats

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Abstract
2 methods of continuous estrogen delivery, polyestradiol phosphate injection and implantation of Silastic capsules of estradiol-17 β, in ovariectomized rats induced increases in plasma prolactin in the afternoon (15.00–17.00) beginning at 1 week and continuing for 4–8 weeks. In addition these methods of estrogen treatment potentiated the ether-induced increase in plasma prolactin in the morning (9.00–11.00) beginning on week 2 and continuing for 3–8 weeks. These results indicate that estrogen activates the mechanisms that cause an afternoon surge in prolactin before potentiating a morning elevation induced by ether anesthesia.