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The role of basal FSH secretion during the rat oestrous cycle in regulating ovulation was examined by suppressing FSH secretion using charcoal-treated porcine follicular fluid (pFF). Although 0·5 ml pFF given at 05.00 and 11.00 h on the day of pro-oestrus had no effect on ovulation, 0·5 ml pFF given five times at 6-h intervals from 11.00 h on dioestrus to 11.00 h on pro-oestrus completely eliminated ovulation on the morning of the next oestrus. When 0·25 ml pFF was given on the same schedule, all animals ovulated a significantly decreased number of oocytes (9·0 ± 0·8) at the next oestrus. During the period of pFF treatment, the number of follicles capable of ovulating in response to human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) decreased (7·6 ± 0·7 at 05.00 h on pro-oestrus) and plasma levels of oestradiol showed a peak level 6 h later than in controls treated with 0·5 ml steroid-free porcine serum. Treatment with pFF suppressed plasma FSH concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, although plasma LH was inhibited irregularly. Supplementary administration of LH throughout the treatment period with 0·5 ml pFF resulted in ovulation of one to three oocytes in response to hCG in only three out of ten animals. These results suggest that basal secretion of FSH during the rat oestrous cycle plays an essential role in follicular development and maturation towards ovulation, and that the levels of FSH secretion may contribute to the maturation of normal numbers of follicles for ovulation.

Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 139, 287–293