Stimulation of the Hypothalamus and FSH and LH Secretion in the Ferret

Abstract

The acute effects of hypothalamic electrical stimulation on the secretion of FSH and LH have been examined in anestrous and estrous ferrets. Basal levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were higher in the anestrous than in the estrous animals; the anestrous animals showed a more marked increase in gonadotropin levels following hypothalamic stimulation than did the estrous animals whether the stimulation current was constant or increased in the course of the experiment. It is concluded that the physiological difference in the control of gonadotropin secretion in the estrous (vs the anestrous) ferret is not reflected in an increased sensitivity of the hypothalamo-hypophysial axis to stimulation.