Anterior Pituitary Levels of FSH, LH, ACTH and Prolactin After Mating in Female Rabbits.

SummaryAnterior pituitary levels of LH, FSH, ACTH and prolactin were determined at 0, 0.25, 0.75, 3, 7, or 11 hours after mating in 96 female rabbits. Levels of LH, ACTH and prolactin decreased rapidly after mating to low levels which persisted from 0.75 to 7 hours after mating, but copulatory levels of these tropins were largely restored within 11 hours after mating. Pituitary FSH was not significantly influenced by copulation. The results indicate that the mating stimulus is not specific for ovulating hormone release and suggest that other pituitary tropins may affect reproductive function near the time of ovulation.