Genetic and environmental variation in the LH response of ovariectomized sheep to LH-RH

The influence of breed and season on the sensitivity of the pituitary gland of sheep to LH-RH was assessed. Ovariectomized ewes of 3 breeds (Finnish Landrace, Scottish Blackface and Tasmanian Merino) with differing normal breeding seasons and with differing ovulation rates were injected (i.v.) with 3 doses of LH-RH (1.56, 6.25 or 25.0 micrograms) at 3 different times of the year covering the anoestrous and the breeding seasons of intact ewes; 9 ewes of each breed (3 per sub-class) were examined on the first and third occasions, 6 (2 per sub-class) on the second. The response was measured in terms of the concentration of LH in peripheral plasma 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after injection. Time of year, but not the breed of sheep, affected the magnitude of the response; the data indicated that the duration of LH secretion was greater during the breeding season than during anoestrus. It was concluded that changes in the spontaneous activity of the hypothalamus/hypophysis could contribute to seasonal changes in LH secretion independently of the modifying effects of gonadal steroids. Such variation in unmodulated activity apparently does not contribute to the differences in ovulation rate among the 3 breeds.