Evidence for a coitally induced 'mnemonic' involved in luteal function in the vole (Microtus agrestis)

The development of luteal function in the vole is dependent on a neuroendocrine reflex which is initially activated by mating. Bromocriptine was used to destroy the CL initially induced by mating and fresh CL were induced by hormone treatment. The fate of such newly formed CL suggested that the luteotrophic effect of mating continued for about 10 days after mating, despite the destruction of the original mating-induced CL. The luteotrophic effect of mating therefore seems to be 'remembered'. A study of the fate of hormonally induced CL in females in which pregnancy had been blocked by exposure to a strange male suggested that the strange male may cause pregnancy failure by inhibiting or suppressing the luteotrophic 'mnemonic' activated by the stud mating.