Dw. Miller et al., SUPPRESSION OF FETAL GONADOTROPIN CONCENTRATIONS BY MATERNAL PASSIVE-IMMUNIZATION TO GNRH IN SHEEP, Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 113(1), 1998, pp. 69-73
The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis matures during fetal life and m
ay be susceptible to adverse effects. Model systems can be used to und
erstand its physiological role. The aim of this study was to determine
whether antibodies to GnRH, administered to the mother, can cross the
ovine fetal-placental barrier and suppress fetal gonadotrophin secret
ion. Maternal passive immunization to GnRH in pregnant Greyface ewes (
day 103 of gestation) resulted in GnRH antibody titres of from 1:6000
to 1:9000 after I day and a suppression of the pulsatile secretion of
fetal LH after 2 days. Fetal FSH concentrations declined gradually ove
r the II days of the experiment and were only significantly different
from control animals immunized against BSA in male fetuses. The slower
decrease in fetal FSH concentrations than in LH concentrations shows
that the secretion of FSH, unlike that of LH, is not dependent on shor
t term changes in GnRH release. The lack of a suppressive effect of th
e maternal GnRH immunoneutralization on female fetal FSH secretion may
be due to removal of the negative feedback effect of oestradiol and,
possibly, inhibin. There was no sexual dimorphism in the effect of mat
ernal GnRH immunoneutralization on fetal GnRH antibody titres or fetal
LH secretion. These findings show that maternal passive immunization
against GnRH results in GnRH antibodies crossing the fetal-placental b
arrier and suppressing fetal LH and FSH secretion in males, but only s
uppressing LH secretion in the females. Although the lack of effect on
FSH secretion in the females needs to be investigated further, the pr
esent study provides evidence of a non-invasive procedure for blocking
fetal gonadotrophin secretion which may be used to investigate hypoth
alamo-pituitary-gonadal The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis matures
during fetal life and may be susceptible to adverse effects. Model sy
stems can be used to understand its physiological role. The aim of thi
s study was to determine whether antibodies to GnRH, administered to t
he mother, can cross the ovine fetal-placental barrier and suppress fe
tal gonadotrophin secretion. Maternal passive immunization to GnRH in
pregnant Greyface ewes (day 103 of gestation) resulted in GnRH antibod
y titres of from 1:6000 to 1:9000 after I day and a suppression of the
pulsatile secretion of fetal LH after 2 days. Fetal FSH concentration
s declined gradually over the II days of the experiment and were only
significantly different from control animals immunized against BSA in
male fetuses. The slower decrease in fetal FSH concentrations than in
LH concentrations shows that the secretion of FSH, unlike that of LH,
is not dependent on short term changes in GnRH release. The lack of a
suppressive effect of the maternal GnRH immunoneutralization on female
fetal FSH secretion may be due to removal of the negative feedback ef
fect of oestradiol and, possibly, inhibin. There was no sexual dimorph
ism in the effect of maternal GnRH immunoneutralization on fetal GnRH
antibody titres or fetal LH secretion. These findings show that matern
al passive immunization against GnRH results in GnRH antibodies crossi
ng the fetal-placental barrier and suppressing fetal LH and FSH secret
ion in males, but only suppressing LH secretion in the females. Althou
gh the lack of effect on FSH secretion in the females needs to be inve
stigated further, the present study provides evidence of a non-invasiv
e procedure for blocking fetal gonadotrophin secretion which may be us
ed to investigate hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal function during early
gestation in sheep.