Abstract
The pulsatile administration of LHRH, mimicking its endogenous pattern of release stimulates the pituitary–gonadal axis enhancing fertility (Carmel et al., 1976; Knobil, 1980; Wickings et al., 1981a). However, continuous administration of identical doses of LHRH or more potent agonists leads to pituitary desensitization and paradoxical antifertility effects (Be1chetz et al., 1978; Sandow et al., 1978). The initial hypersecretion of pituitary gonadotropins following high dose LHRH administration causes a down regulation of gonadal gonadotropin receptors. Chronic administration of LHRH agonists then leads to pituitary refractoriness. These effects are accompanied by decreased ovarian and testicular steroidogenesis which results in a regression of steroid dependent accessory reproductive organs.
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Akhtar, F.B., Wickings, E.J., Nieschlag, E. (1984). Male fertility control with an LHRH agonist: primate studies. In: Vickery, B.H., Nestor, J.J., Hafez, E.S.E. (eds) LHRH and Its Analogs. Advances in Reproductive Health Care, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5588-2_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5588-2_7
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