Effects of multiple LH injections on the secretion of estrogens from polycystic ovaries of androgen-sterilized rats.

Differences in the secretion of estrogens by follicular polycystic ovaries of androgen-sterilized rats and by normal follicular ovaries of early proestrous rats were compared. Some rats were injected i.v. with LH 30 min before bleeding. This injection of LH did not influence the secretion of estrogens by normal ovaries, but greatly increased that by polycystic ovaries, suggesting that there was abnormal steroidogenesis in cystic ovaries. In the ovaries of such androgen-sterilized rats, two types of enlarged abnormal follicles were seen. One of these was truly cystic with few or no granulosa cells (1st type). The other had a hyperplastic and infolded layer of granulosa cells with a papillary appearance (2nd type). Because it is known that the preovulatory LH surge is not found in androgen-sterilized rats, a classical approach was taken to circumvent the probable deficit in cyclic release of LH by giving an i.v. injection of LH every 4 days for 16 days, and ovarian venous blood was collected 4 days after the last injection. In consequence the 2nd type of abnormal follicle disappeared as did the abnormalities of estrogen production. These results suggest that the abnormalities of estrogen production by the polycystic ovaries of androgen-sterilized rats may be due to the 2nd type of abnormal follicle.