Pituitary and plasma LH and prolactin levels in female rats rendered blind and anosmic: influence of the pineal gland

Female rats at 25 days of age were left intact or rendered either blind, blind pinealectomized, blind anosmic or blind anosmic pinealectomized. At 60 days of age blind anosmic rats had depressed body weights and markedly hypotrophic uteri, ovaries and adrenal glands. Pituitary LH levels were significantly elevated in blind anosmic rats whereas pituitary prolactin levels were significantly depressed. Plasma LH levels in blind and blind anosmic animals were significantly depressed: plasma prolactin levels were unaffected by either of these treatments. Pinealectomy was effective in reversing the effects of combined blinding and anosmia on body, reproductive organ and adrenal weights as well as on pituitary LH and prolactin and plasma LH levels.