Philip A. Renner

Pattern of secretion of luteinizing hormone and testosterone in the sexually mature male turkey

Whether luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) are secreted in pulsatile patterns was determined in sexually mature male turkeys. Turkeys were chronically cannulated and serially bled for three 8-hr periods covering the 24-hr day (14L:10D, n = 7, series B), or for two 12-hr periods covering the 24-hr day (14L:10D, n = 4, series C). Pulses of both LH and T occurred during both the light and dark portions of the 24-hr day. A portion of the secretory episodes of T, where the baseline level of LH was relatively low, was associated with prior peaks of LH secretion. Secretory episodes of T also occurred, where baseline levels of LH and T were both relatively high, without detection of prior peaks of LH. No differences were found between the photophase and scotophase portions of the photoperiod for either LH or T concentration. It is concluded that T is secreted in a pulsatile pattern in sexually mature male turkeys. However, LH is secreted in a pulsatile pattern only when baseline levels of both LH and T are relatively low. Neither LH nor T secretion is entrained by the photoperiod. Corticosterone was measured in hourly samples, but no changes in concentration occurred in association with the photoperiod.