EFFECTS OF NALOXONE, AN ANTIOPIATE ON THE HYPOPHYSEAL GONADOTROPINS IN THE CYCLING GOATS

The effects of an antiopiate naloxone on hypophysial gonadotrophins du ring luteal phase were studied on 6 cycling goats (Alpine x Beetal). T hey were infused with saline through jugular vein for 4 hr @ 0.66 ml/m in on day 11. and naloxone for 4 hr at the same rate on day 14 of the cycle. Naloxone treatment increased mean LH levels significantly (P<0. 01) over saline treatment during infusion but levels in post-infusion samples did not show any significant difference between treatments. Me an number of LH pulses observed during naloxone infusion, was though h igh but not significantly different, whereas pulse magnitude was signi ficantly high (P<0.05) compared to saline treatment. Follicle stimulat ing hormone levels remained unaffected both during infusion and post-i nfusion periods. Progesterone data confirmed that the animals were in the stated part of the cycle. The study reveals that naloxone can be e mployed to increase LH levels for short periods without affecting norm al endocrinology in the animals primed with progesterone.