Effect of Intermittent Versus Continuous Infusion of Progesterone on LHRH Release In Viuo from the Rat Mediobasal Hypothalamus

Present study examined the effect of intermittent versus continuous infusion of progesterone(P) on LHRH release in uiuo from the mediobasal hvpothalamus of ovariectomiEed, estradiol-primed adult rats bearing push-pull cannulae. Three experimental groups were studied: 1) control (perfusion medium only),2) intermittent perfusion of P (10-min on,20-min off, and 3) continuous perfusion of p. p (10 ng/mll was directly infused into the MBH following a 3 hr basal collection. Perfusates were collected at 10 min intents린s on ice and LHRH release was measured by LHRH radioimmunoassav. Cycle detector analysis revealed that the spontaneous HRH output in the control group was pulsatile over a 7 hr push-pull perfusion period. The mean basal LHRH release, pulse amplitude and pl서se period were 0.68 $\pm$ 0.03 ps110 min, 1.15 $\pm$0.08 pg and 60 $\pm$ 9 min, respectivelv. Intermi구eat perfusion of P clearly stimulated the mean LHRH release (pre-P vs post-P: 1.14 $\pm$ 0.18 vs 1.99 $\pm$ 0.53 pg) without changes in LHRH pulse frequency. In contrast to intermittent infusion of p, continuous administration of P faithed to modify LHRH release, since the mean LHRH release and pulse amplitude between pre-P and post-P perfusion urere similar. The in vitro study clearly showed that intermittent, but not continuous administration of P is effective in stimulating LHRH release. Therefore, it appears that rhythmic secretion of P mal be the erective signal for activating the neural LHRH apparatus.