Central administration of corticotrophin releasing hormone but not arginine vasopressin stimulates the secretion of luteinizing hormone in rams in the presence and absence of testosterone

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that central administration of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and/or arginine vasopressin (AVP) will affect the secretion of LH in rams and that testosterone is necessary for these actions to occur. Plasma LH levels were measured in castrated rams during 1 h infusion of either 100 μl vehicle/mock cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or mock CSF containing 25 μg CRH, 25 μg AVP or 25 μg of each peptide through guide cannulae into the third cerebral ventricle. These intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusions were given to the castrated rams following injections (i.m.) each 12 h of oil or 8 mg testosterone propionate for 7 days. Blood samples were collected every 10..