Gonadotrophs in long-term ovariectomized rat females treated with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and estradiol

The effects of multiple estradiol dipropionate (EDP) treatment, high doses of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and the combination of both on immunohistochemical and morphometric parameters of gonadotrophic cells in long-term ovariectomized (ovx) rats were studied using rabbit anti-rat b eta-follicle stimulating hormone beta-FSH) and beta-luteinizing hormone (be ta-LH) sera and a peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical proce dure. A morphometric method for determining changes of gonadotrophic cell v olume, as well as of their number and relative volume density was used. All examined morphometric values in treated females showed a significant decre ase in comparison with the ovx controls, the most significant decrease bein g observed in EDP and EDP+LHRH-treated rats. These results indicate that be sides inhibitory action of LHRH and a singificant inhibitory effect of EDF: the combination of both expressed a prominent inhibitory effect on the exa mined parameters of gonadotrophic cells in long-term ovx females.