Immunological dissection of rat pregnancy: study of the mode of action of antisera to luteinizing hormone.

The sensitivity of rat pregnancy to luteinizing hormone (LH) depletion on days 7-12 (day 1 = day of insemination) was investigated by intraperitoneal administration of a single injection of various doses of an anti-bovine LH rabbit serum on the day in question. Day 11 was found to be the most susceptible time for this kind of intervention. The fate of the anti-LH antibodies in the recipients was followed in the scrum and in various organs of the treated animals. Serological analysis revealed persistence of free antibodies to LH in the serum as late as 48 hr after injection. Immunofluorescence studies showed immune complex deposition in the kidney glomerula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]