The lack of a physiologic effect of the stress-induced decrease of the proestrous prolactin surge in the rat

Experiments were performed to determine whether the restraint stress-induced decrease in the proestrous prolactin (PRL) surge blocked luteolysis of the corpora lutea (CL), affected ovulation, or prevented the induction of pregnancy/pseudopregnancy in the next cycle. In all experiments rats were either stressed on proestrus and estrus, administered daily sc injections of 1 mg/day of 2-Br-alpha-ergocryptine (CB-154) for 4 days starting on diestrus II or not treated. In one experiment animals were sampled on the afternoon of proestrus to determine the effect of restraint stress on plasma PRL values and sacrificed on the morning of proestrus in the next cycle. Ovaries were removed, weighed, fixed and examined for number of CL. Restraint stress resulted in a significant increase in ovarian weight when compared to controls; CB-154 resulted in significant increases in ovarian weight when compared to stress and control animals. However, only CB-154-treated animals had a significant increase in the number of CL when compared to controls. In another experiment, animals were sacrificed on estrus of the next cycle and the oviducts examined for the number of ova. There were no differences among groups. In the final experiment, animals were placed with males of proven fertility on proestrus of the next cycle and examined for evidence of sperm in the vaginal lavage and/or vaginal plugs. CB-154 prevented the induction of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy due to a carry over effect of the drug on PRL surges. Restraint stress had no significant effect on the induction of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. We conclude that there is no physiological significance to the stress-induced decrease of the proestrous PRL surge with respect to ovarian function or fertility.