Luteinizing hormone in the Kowari, Dasyuroides byrnei (Marsupialia:Dasyuridae), during the oestrous cycle and pregnancy, and the effects of gonadectomy in male and female

Abstract

A heterologous double antibody radioimmunoassay has been validated for measurement of LH in plasma of a dasyurid marsupial. Basal concentrations in the oestrous cycle of female kowaris were in the range of 0.5-2.0 ng NIH-oLH-S19 mL-1. Many animals showed elevated LH concentrations (3.0-12.0 ng mL-1) between 8 and 15 days before oestrous but no pre-ovulatory surge was detected. Gonadectomy resulted in greatly increased concentrations of LH, and decreases in testosterone and progesterone concentrations in male and female respectively. In the female LH values ranged from 10-50 ng mL-1 but in the male LH values were greater than 50 ng mL-1.