Effects of Pituitary Stalk-transection and Type of Barrier on Pituitary and Luteal Function During the Estrous Cycle of the Ewe

Authors

David S. Mallory, Marshall UniversityFollow
C. M. Gust
R. A. Dailey

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1986

Abstract

Effects of pituitary stalk-transection on plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) prolactin (PRL) and progesterone were investigated during the estrous cycle of ewes. Pituitary stalk (SS) or sham (SH) transection was performed on day 1 (estrus = day 0) of the estrous cycle. A Teflon or Silastic barrier was placed between the cut ends of the stalk to prevent reorganization of the portal vasculature. Immediately following surgery, pulsatile administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, 200 ng/hr) or .9% NaCl was initiated and continued for the duration of the experiment. Estradiol benzoate (EB, 50 μg im) was administered to all ewes on day 3. Mean concentrations of LH were greater in SS ewes than in SH ewes (P<.05). There was a trend (P=.06) for the concentration of LH to be higher in ewes with Teflon compared with Silastic barriers between the cut ends of the stalk. Infusion of GnRH elevated concentrations of LH in both SS and SH ewes (P<.05). Concentrations of progesterone were reduced (P<.01) in saline-infused SS ewes while infusion of GnRH in SS ewes maintained concentrations of progesterone similar to saline-infused SH ewes. The concentrations of FSH or PRL were unaffected by SS, type of barrier or treatment with GnRH. Administration of EB failed to induce a surge of LH except in a SH ewe infused with GnRH. Ewes were more responsive to infusion of GnRH following SS than after SH as reflected by increased plasma concentrations of LH and progesterone.

Comments

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Domestic Animal Endocrinology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Domestic Animal Endocrinology, VOL 3, ISSUE 4, (1986), DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0739-7240(86)90023-8

Copyright © 1986 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Recommended Citation

Mallory D. S., Gust C. M., Dailey R. A. (1986) Effects of pituitary stalk-transection and type of barrier on pituitary and luteal function during the estrous cycle of the ewe. Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. 3:253-259.