Effect of starvation on pituitary and serum follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone following ovariectomy in the rat.

Abstract

The concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in serum and pituitary glands was studied in intact female rats and rats that were ovariectomized on day 0 of the experiment and then starved or fed for 2, 4, 7, or 9 days. Ovariectomy resulted in enhanced rates of synthesis and release of FSH and LH as indicated by the significant (P < 0.01) rises in the concentration of both hormones in the pituitary gland and serum.Starvation resulted in a decrease in body and pituitary weight. The concentration of FSH and LH in pituitary glands of starved rats was higher (P < 0.05) than that in fed rats on days 7 and 9. The concentration of FSH and LH in serum of starved rats was increased after ovariectomy but the levels on days 7 and 9 were lower than those of fed rats.These results suggest that the synthesis of FSH and LH was enhanced in both starved and fed rats following ovariectomy while the rate of release of both hormones was decreased at 7 and 9 days of starvation in comparison with rats fed ad libitum.