Pituitary LH content during delayed and post-implantation periods in the armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus).

The pituitary glands from female armadillos in various reproductive states were individually assayed for lh content by the oaad method of Parlow (1961). The glands from animals in the delayed implantation period contained significantly more lh than glands from the non-ovulated animals. Bilateral ovariectomy during the delayed implantation period resulted in an almost total depletion of pituitary lh stores when assayed 8, and 16 to 17 days later. Following implantation of the blastocyst, pituitary lh content declined progressively during gestation. No significant changes in the follicular population of the ovaries were observed in any of the experimental groups, although the weight of the ovary without the corpus luteum increased significantly during the post-implantation period.