Dynamics of ovarian inhibin secretion during the oestrous cycle of the rat

Plasma and ovarian concentrations of inhibin were determined at 3-h intervals throughout the 4-day oestrous cycle of rats by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) based on a bovine RIA. Plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, progesterone, testosterone, oestradiol-17 beta, and pituitary contents of FSH and LH were also determined during the cycle. Plasma levels of inhibin showed a marked increase on the morning of oestrus and the afternoon of metoestrus, and a further increase was noted on the morning of pro-oestrus. These increases in plasma levels of inhibin were probably due to the following three events in the ovary, follicular recruitment on the morning of oestrus, selection of follicles on the day of metoestrus, and final maturation of follicles for ovulation on the morning of pro-oestrus with an increase in oestradiol-17 beta secretion. A striking decrease in inhibin secretion occurred during the process of ovulation after the preovulatory gonadotrophin surge on the afternoon of pro-oestrus. Basal levels of plasma FSH gradually decreased from metoestrus to pro-oestrus as plasma levels of inhibin increased. There was a significant inverse relationship between plasma levels of FSH and inhibin throughout the oestrous cycle (r = -0.51). The present findings suggest that changes in the plasma levels of inhibin during the oestrous cycle provide a precise indicator for follicular recruitment, selection and ovulation, and that changes in concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta in the plasma are associated with follicular maturation.