Dopaminergic regulation of gonadotrophin secretion in seasonally anoestrous mares

We have previously demonstrated that daily administration of the dopamine D2 antagonist, sulpiride, during seasonal anoestrus, effectively advances the mean time of onset of the breeding season in mares. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sulpiride administration on pulsatile FSH and LH secretion in seasonally anoestrous mares, follicular development, time of first ovulation and the fertility at the first ovulation. Fourteen anoestrous mares were selected based on progesterone concentrations < 1 ng ml-1 for 3 weeks and largest follicle diameter < 20 mm. Starting 30 January, eight seasonally anoestrous mares were treated daily with sulpiride until the first ovulation of the year, and six untreated control mares were maintained under the same environmental conditions. Ovarian activity was monitored and plasma samples were collected every other day. On days 1, 11 and 21 of treatment, plasma samples were collected every 15 min for 11 h in six treated and six control mares. Mares were bred during the first oestrus. Mean time of first ovulation was significantly advanced in sulpiride-treated mares compared with control mares. Pregnancy rate 18 days after ovulation was similar between groups. Mean FSH pulse frequency on the first day of treatment and mean plasma FSH concentrations on day 11 of treatment were significantly higher in sulpiride-treated mares compared with control mares. No significant difference was observed between groups for parameters of LH pulsatile secretion. The results of this study suggest that dopamine inhibits FSH pulsatile secretion in seasonally anoestrous mares.