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Plasma concentrations of -melanocyte-stimulating hormone (-MSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay at various times during the oestrous cycle of the rat. Variations in plasma -MSH concentrations occurred throughout the oestrous cycle. Plasma -MSH concentrations were low during the day of dioestrus 1 and rose during the evening reaching peak levels at around 02.00 and 06.00 h on dioestrus 2. Plasma -MSH concentrations then fell and remained low throughout the rest of dioestrus 2. A different pattern was observed during pro-oestrus and oestrus. On those days peak -MSH concentrations occurred during the morning and persisted until the onset of the dark period at around 17.00 h.

Plasma -MSH concentrations in ovariectomized rats were found to be increased 24 h after administration of a single injection of oestradiol benzoate and at 12 and 36 h after a single injection of progesterone. It is suggested that these ovarian steroids may influence the rhythm in plasma -MSH concentration that occurs during the oestrous cycle.