PROLACTIN AND THE REGULATION OF 20α-DIHYDROPROGESTERONE SECRETION OF THE SUPER-LUTEINIZED RAT OVARY DURING LUTEOLYSIS INDUCED BY A PROSTAGLANDIN F2α ANALOGUE
ABSTRACT Twenty-five day old female rats were treated with pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) to achieve a state of luteinization. Eight days after the HCG administration luteolysis was induced by a subcutaneous injection of 5 μg of the prostaglandin F2α analogue cloprostenol (Estrumate®, ICI 80996). In animals treated with 2-Br-α-ergocryptine (BEC), administration of cloprostenol decreased serum progesterone levels from 580 to 20 ng/ml in 5 h and progesterone remained low for the next 18 h. The serum levels of 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20α-DHP) and prolactin (PRL) remained at pre-treatment values (20α-DHP 85 to 170 ng/ml; PRL less than 5 ng/ml) throughout the observation period. When animals treated with both BEC and cloprostenol were given PRL 5 h after the prostaglandin injection, an increased 20α-DHP level (630 ng/ml) was found 23 h after the cloprostenol administration, while the progesterone level was decreased (70 ng/ml). These findings were similar to the observations following cloprostenol treatment alone. The study indicates a causal relationship between the increase in the serum levels of PRL and 20α-DHP observed after PGF2α induced luteolysis in rats with superluteinized ovaries.