EFFECTS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I ON LUTEINIZING-HORMONE SECRETION IN SHEEP

Circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) may be involved in nu tritional modulation of reproductive status. Acute effects of IGF-1 on luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion were studied in two experiments, e ach using eight castrate male sheep surgically prepared with an elevat ed carotid artery, four with (E +) and four without (E -) subcutaneous oestradiol implants. Blood samples were taken every 12 min for 8 h at weekly intervals, with IGF-1 given at 4 h. In Experiment 1, sheep wer e fed to maintain live weight (maintenance) and IGF-1 doses tested wer e 25, 50, 100 and 150 mu g kg(-1) given via the carotid (i.c.). Plasma LH concentrations were 6.2 +/- 0.35 (E -) and 4.2 +/- 0.49 (E +) ng m l(-1) pre-IGF-1, were increased after 25 mu g kg(-1) IGF-1 (E -, 15%; E +, 11%) but were either unaltered (E -) or decreased (E +, -16%) aft er 150 mu g kg(-1); thus, mean LH response was negatively related to I GF-1 dose (E -, b = -0.007, P < 0.01; E +, b = -0.011, P < 0.05). LH p ulse frequencies (p.f.) were 4.6 +/- 0.42 (E -) and 3.9 +/- 0.35 (E +) pulses per 4 h pre-IGF-1, were unaltered after 25 mu g kg(-1) IGF-1, but were decreased after 150 mu g kg(-1) (E -, -33%; E +, -51%); thus, p.f. was also negatively related to IGF-1 dose (E -, b = -0.016, P < 0.01; E +, b = -0.019, P > 0.05). LH pulse amplitude and baseline were not significantly altered by IGF-1. Plasma glucose concentrations dec reased after 100 and 150 mu g kg(-1) IGF-1 from 3.40 to 2.50 and 2.34 mmol l(-1), respectively (SED 0.314, P < 0.001), but were not signific antly altered after lower doses. Thus, hypoglycaemia caused LH inhibit ion after higher doses of IGF-1, which counteracted CE -) or overcame (E +) the stimulatory effects on LH seen after lower doses. In Experim ent 2, sheep were fed 50% maintenance; saline vehicle i.c., then IGF-1 doses 25 and 50 mu g kg(-1) given i.c. or i.v, were tested. In E - an d E + sheep, respectively, mean LH pre-IGF-1 was 8.7 +/- 0.97 and 1.9 +/- 0.16 ng ml(-1), p.f. was 3.8 +/- 0.44 and 0.8 +/- 0.44 pulses per 4 h, and amplitude was 3.6 +/- 0.49 and 0.4 +/- 0.08 ng ml(-1). Saline vehicle had no effect on LH. IGF-1 at both doses and by both administ ration routes in E-sheep increased mean LH (22-29%, P < 0.001), and in E + sheep increased mean LH(12-36%, P < 0.001), p.f. (94-219%, P < 0. 001) and amplitude (125-803%, P < 0.01). Thus, low doses of peripheral ly-administered IGF-1 stimulated LH output in sheep, consistent with i ts putative physiological role as a nutritional modulator of reproduct ion. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.