Effects of Starvation on Hypothalamic FSH-RF and Pituitary FSH in Male Rats

The effects of complete food removal for 7 days were determined on hypothalamic content of FSH-RF, pituitary FSH content and concentration, and weight of the anterior pituitary, testes and sex accessories of male rats. Control male rats were fed ad lib. for 7 days. On day 8 each rat was weighed, killed by decapitation, and the appropriate organs were removed and weighed. Hypothalamic FSH-RF was assayed by the method of Mittler and Meites, and FSH by the method of Steelman and Pohley. The starved rats showed a large reduction in hypothalamic FSH-RF and in pituitary FSH levels as compared to the ad lib. fed controls. There were significant decreases in weight of the anterior pituitary, seminal vesicles and prostate in the starved rats but testicular weight remained unchanged. These results suggest that starvation inhibits FSH release by decreasing hypothalamic FSH-RF activity. (Endocrinology88: 1246, 1971)