Abstract
Summary
Rhesus monkeys, sedated with phencyclidine hydrochloride (Sernylan), were quieted for prolonged periods of time, while maintaining somatic reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration. Brief daily periods of sedation did not interfere with the menstrual cycle. Prolonged sedation, however, interfered with the experimentally estrogen-induced LH surge, but not with the inhibitory action of estrogen on LH tonic secretion. Pulsatile release of LH, GH, and prolactin persisted even under prolonged sedation. The secretion of prolactin in response to the administration of TRH was increased in animals sedated with phencyclidine.
We would like to thank Mr. Paul Diefenbach and Mr. Howard Rosenblatt for their help in handling the animals; Mr. Robert Sundeen, Mrs. I. Conwell, Mrs. U. Bruce, and Miss Jane Drewes for help in RIA procedures; and Mrs. Joan Camacho for typing the manuscript.
We would also like to thank the NIAMD for synthetic Gn-RH, Dr. G. Niswender for providing us with antiovine LH serum, and Dr. L. Reichert for providing us with ovine LH and LH-LER-1213.