Pituitary and testicular endocrine responses to exogenous gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinising hormone in male dogs treated with GnRH agonist implants

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 891 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Junaidi ◽  
P. E. Williamson ◽  
G. B. Martin ◽  
P. G. Stanton ◽  
M. A. Blackberry ◽  
...  

The present study tested whether exogenous gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinising hormone (LH) can stimulate LH and testosterone secretion in dogs chronically treated with a GnRH superagonist. Twenty male adult dogs were assigned to a completely randomised design comprising five groups of four animals. Each dog in the control group received a blank implant (placebo) and each dog in the other four groups received a 6-mg implant containing a slow-release formulation of deslorelin (d-Trp6-Pro9-des-Gly10–LH-releasing hormone ethylamide). The same four control dogs were used for all hormonal challenges, whereas a different deslorelin-implanted group was used for each challenge. Native GnRH (5 μg kg–1 bodyweight, i.v.) was injected on Days 15, 25, 40 and 100 after implantation, whereas bovine LH (0.5 μg kg–1 bodyweight, i.v.) was injected on Days 16, 26, 41 and 101. On all occasions after Day 25–26 postimplantation, exogenous GnRH and LH elicited higher plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone in control than deslorelin-treated animals (P < 0.05). It was concluded that, in male dogs, implantation of a GnRH superagonist desensitised the pituitary gonadotrophs to GnRH and also led to a desensitisation of the Leydig cells to LH. This explains, at least in part, the profound reduction in the production of androgen and spermatozoa in deslorelin-treated male dogs.

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 485 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Arrieta ◽  
A. Porras ◽  
E. González-Padilla ◽  
C. Murcia ◽  
S. Rojas ◽  
...  

The relative abundance of the different isoforms of pituitary and circulating luteinising hormone (LH) in ewes, at different times after the administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle was investigated. Sixteen ewes on Day 9 of their cycle were divided into four groups (n = 4). The control group (T0) received saline solution; the remaining animals received 100 μg GnRH (i.m.) 30, 90 or 180 min (T30, T90 and T180, respectively) before serum and pituitary gland collection. Luteinising hormone polymorphism was analysed by chromatofocusing (pH 10.5–3.5). The LH eluted from each chromatofocusing was grouped on the basis of the following three criteria: (1) according to the pH of elution (pH ≥ 10–3.5); (2) as either a basic (pH ≥ 7.5), neutral (pH 7.4–6.5) and acidic (pH ≤ 6.4) elution of LH of serum and hypophyseal origin; and (3) on the basis of distinct isoforms, of which 10 (A–J) were identifiable in hypophyseal extracts and four (A–D) were found in the serum. In general, the most abundant forms of LH in both the pituitary and serum, at all times, were basic. However, that proportion was greater in hypophyseal extracts (84 ± 3%, 81 ± 4%, 82 ± 3% and 83 ± 2% at T0, T30, T90 and T180, respectively) than in serum (51 ± 5%, 48 ± 10% and 54 ± 6% at T30, T90 and T180, respectively). Neutral and acidic LH made up a larger proportion of the total LH in sera (neutral: 17 ± 4%, 20 ± 6% and 23 ± 3% at T30, T90 and T180, respectively; acidic: 32 ± 8%, 32 ± 11% and 23 ± 6% at T30, T90 and T180, respectively) than in the pituitary extracts (neutral: 4.0 ± 0.7%, 10 ± 4%, 7 ± 2% and 5.0 ± 0.5% at T0, T30, T90 and T180, respectively; acidic: 12 ± 3%, 11 ± 2%, 12 ± 2% and 12 ± 2% at T0, T30, T90 and T180, respectively) at all times. These data reveal that the relative composition of the LH present in the pituitary gland and the LH secreted into the circulation is different, with more neutral and acidic isoforms being secreted. The pattern of circulating LH isoforms changes between 30 and 180 min after GnRH peak induction, with a greater proportion of isoform C (eluting between pH 7.0 and 6.5) at T180 compared with T30 and T90.


1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1660-1668 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Felberbaum ◽  
U. Germer ◽  
M. Ludwig ◽  
H. Riethmuller-Winzen ◽  
S. Heise ◽  
...  

1988 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Fennessy ◽  
J. M. Suttie ◽  
S. F. Crosbie ◽  
I. D. Corson ◽  
H. J. Elgar ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Eight adult red deer stags were given an i.v. injection of synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on seven occasions at various stages of the antler cycle, namely hard antler in late winter, casting, mid-velvet growth, full velvet growth, antler cleaning and hard antler both during the rut and in mid-winter. The stags were allocated at random on each occasion to one of four doses, i.e. 1, 3, 10 or 95 μg GnRH. Blood samples were taken before GnRH injection and for up to 2 h after injection. Pituitary and testicular responses were recorded in terms of plasma LH and testosterone concentrations. There was an increase in plasma concentration of LH after the GnRH injection in all stags at all stages of the antler cycle. Dose-dependent responses of LH to GnRH in terms of area under the curve were apparent at all stages of the antler cycle. The lowest responses were recorded at casting, during velvet antler growth and at the rut sampling. The pattern of testosterone response reflected the inter-relationship of the antler and sexual cycles with very low testosterone responses occurring at casting and during velvet antler growth. The responses were higher at antler cleaning and then increased to a maximum at the rut before declining to reach their nadir at casting. The results are consistent with a hypothesis that the antler cycle, as a male secondary sexual characteristic, is closely linked to the sexual cycle and its timing is controlled by reproductive hormones. Low plasma concentrations of testosterone, even after LH stimulation, are consistent with the hypothesis that testosterone is unnecessary as an antler growth stimulant during growth. J. Endocr. (1988) 117, 35–41


1976 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 680-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Donald ◽  
Eric A. Espiner ◽  
R. John Cowles ◽  
Joy E. Fazackerley

ABSTRACT Cyproterone acetate (100–150 mg daily) was administered to 8 male patients with excessive libido. Within 3 months a significant fall (P < 0.02) in plasma testosterone was demonstrated. The plasma luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) responses to gonadotrophin releasing hormone (LH/FSH-RH) were also significantly impaired (P < 0.05). A direct correlation between the resting plasma testosterone level and the LH response to LH/FSH-RH was demonstrated (r = 0.743). It is concluded that the fall in plasma testosterone levels in patients receiving cyproterone acetate may be attributed to suppression of LH release, rather than an antiandrogen effect on the testis or hypothalamus.


1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
NO Oguge ◽  
GK Barrell

Studies on the anti-fertility effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) were conducted in rabbits. The bioavailability of MPA and plasma concentrations of progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) after mating were monitored following a single meal containing MPA (1000 mg) in entire does (n = 4); the response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 250 ng) was also observed in MPA-treated, ovariectomized does (n = 6). The reproductive tracts of rabbits mated following MPA treatment were examined 28-30 h after mating. Another group of rabbits (n = 4) received a single dose of MPA on Days 1, 10 or 19 after mating or daily for five days from Day 24. After dosage with 1000 mg MPA, plasma concentrations of MPA were detectable for eight days. However, following multiple dosing (10 mg, 5 days) MPA was detectable in the plasma for two days. MPA reduced the rate of ovulation and suppressed the increase in plasma concentrations of progesterone and LH observed after mating for four days, but had no effect on the response to GnRH. When administered late in gestation, MPA caused the death of fetuses. These results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of MPA on ovulation, probably at the hypothalamic level, and impairment of gestation or parturition.


1994 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
G B Thomas ◽  
A S McNeilly ◽  
F Gibson ◽  
A N Brooks

Abstract In order to investigate the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis during fetal development, sheep fetuses at day 70 of gestation were implanted subcutaneously with a biodegradable implant containing the longacting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, buserelin. The treatment of fetuses with a GnRH agonist throughout the last half of gestation (term=145 days) abolished the increase in plasma LH concentrations that was seen in 2-day-old control lambs in response to an injection of GnRH. This attenuated response was associated with corresponding reductions in the pituitary content of LH and FSH. Immunolocalization studies revealed that pituitary glands from newborn lambs implanted with a GnRH agonist during fetal development were devoid of immunopositive LH- and FSH-containing cells. At birth the testicular weights of GnRH agonist-treated ram lambs were significantly decreased by 40% when compared with controls. This was associated with a 45% reduction in the total number of Sertoli cells per testis. In newborn ewe lambs GnRH agonist treatment had no effect on ovarian weight or on the morphological appearance of the ovaries. GnRH agonist treatment had no effect on the plasma concentrations of progesterone and oestrone in the maternal circulation or on the length of gestation. These results show (1) that GnRH positively regulates the synthesis and secretion of gonadotrophins in the fetus, (2) that reduced fetal gonadotrophic support during the last half of gestation results in a reduction in testicular growth, and (3) that fetal gonadotrophins do not affect maternal steroid secretion. Journal of Endocrinology (1994) 141, 317–324


2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 415-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bassaw ◽  
N. Mohammed ◽  
A. Jaggat ◽  
M. Singh-Bhola ◽  
A. Ramkissoon ◽  
...  

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