The effects of Methallibure (ICI 33,828) on the LH release in castrate male rats challenged with LHRH.

ABSTRACT

Daily administration of 10 mg of Methallibure (ICI 33,828) for 6 days to male castrate rats resulted in significant depression of serum radioimmunoassayable luteinizing hormone (LH). Subsequent challenge with 100 ng of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) showed these rats to release sufficient pituitary LH to achieve plasma levels equal to those of LHRH treated castrate controls. Although an effect at the level of the pituitary remains to be conclusively ruled out, these results suggest that the predominant in vivo effect of Methallibure in the castrate male rat is to suppress pituitary LH release due to diminished secretion of LHRH by the hypothalamus.