Effects of Restricted Feed Intake in Intact and Ovariectomized Rats on Pituitary Lactogen and Gonadotrophin.

Abstract

The lactogenic and gonado-trophic hormone content of pituitaries of intact and ovariectomized rats was determined after full, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 and no-feed regimes. The full or partially-fed groups were sacrificed at the end of 14 days and the unfed group at the end of 7 days. Pituitary lactogen content was reduced in the intact and ovariectomized rats on the 1/2, 1/4 and no-feed regimes below that of the 3/4 and full-fed controls. No change occurred in the gonadotrophin content of the pituitaries of either the intact or ovariectomized rats, regardless of the level of feed intake. In the intact but not in the ovariectomized rats, restricted feed intake caused a marked reduction in the weights of the pituitary, thyroid and adrenals, except that on the no-feed regime adrenal weight was increased in both groups.