ACUTE ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION IN DIESTRUS-2 IN THE RAT ON PULSATILE PROLACTIN AND LH-RELEASE

Exposure to ethanol is followed by changes in reproductive function in man and animals, characterized by modifications in the secretion patt erns of prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LK). As both hormones are s ecreted in an episodic fashion, the present work was undertaken to stu dy the effects of acute ethanol administration on pulsatile prolactin and LH secretion patterns in adult female rats. Rats were previously c annulated to allow a continous blood withdrawal to study the pulsatile patterns of prolactin and LH. The mean values of prolactin during the bleeding period and the absolute pulse amplitude of prolactin peaks w ere significantly increased by acute ethanol administration, whereas a significant decrease of relative pulse amplitude and frequency of thi s hormone was observed. On the other hand, ethanol administration incr eased the mean serum LH levels and the absolute and relative amplitude s of LH peaks. Ethanol treatment did not modify either frequency or du ration of LH peaks. These data suggest that acute ethanol administrati on in adult female rats is followed by changes in the pulsatile prolac tin and LH secretory patterns, which might be part of the mechanism to explain ethanol effects on the endocrine system.