Effect of exogenous prolactin and bromocriptine on seasonal reproductive quiescence in the Bennett's wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus).

Abstract

Two experiments were performed to investigate whether prolactin blocks the reactivation of the corpus luteum during seasonal reproductive quiescence in the Bennett's wallaby. In the first experiment three groups of non-lactating females (groups A C) were subjected in mid-April to photoperiods corresponding to those of the summer solstice from day 0 to day 13 of the experiment. Between days 14 and 52, photoperiods were reduced to correspond to those of the winter solstice (groups B and C). Animals in group A were maintained on the long photoperiods. Two milligrams ovine prolactin (groups A and C) or vehicle (group B) were administered on the mornings of days 14-22. In group A, no animal showed evidence of an active corpus luteum based on increased plasma progesterone levels. All animals in groups B and C exhibited reactivation of the corpus luteum. In group C, reactivation was significantly (P less than 0.01) delayed by a mean of 6.3 days. In the second experiment, two groups of nonlactating female wallabies in 'seasonal quiescence' were injected daily for 7 days with either 60 mg of the dopamine agonist bromocriptine or vehicle. The corpora lutea did not reactivate in either group. We conclude that exogenous prolactin is able to block the effect of short photoperiods in reactivating the quiescent corpus luteum during seasonal quiescence. However, the absence of an effect of bromocriptine suggests that if prolactin is the endogenous hormone responsible for maintaining seasonal quiescence it may not be under dopaminergic control at this time of year.