Intracarotid infusion of LH-RH to female rabbits stimulated a significant increase in plasma LH concentration in the jugular vein. This response varied with the reproductive state of the animal, with a greater release occurring in oestrous (spontaneous or oestrogen-induced) and non-receptive does than in pseudopregnant or ovariectomized animals. If ovariectomized rabbits were pretreated with oe...

The expression of type I GNRH receptor (GNRHR-I) and the direct role of GNRH-I on corpora lutea (CL) function were studied in the pseudopregnant rabbit model. Immunohistochemistry evidenced GNRHR-I and GNRH-I in luteal cells at early (day 4 pseudopregnancy)-, mid (day 9)-, and late (day 13)-luteal stages. Real-time RT-PCR and western blotting revealed GNRHR-I mRNA and protein at the three lutea...

In the rabbit, estradiol is the primary luteotropic hormone. Estradiol withdrawal results in a rapid decline in serum progesterone and eventually in corpus luteum (CL) regression. The objective of this study was to determine whether estradiol modulates luteal cell apoptosis. In the first experiment, rabbits were randomly assigned to one of five experimental groups. An empty capsule (control) or...