Figure 5.

Undernutrition disrupts luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses in female mice ovariectomized and implanted with a, diestrus-like, estradiol-implant (OVX + LowE). Pattern of pulsatile LH secretion, measured in serial tail-tip blood samples, in 3 representative OVX + LowE mice prior to or following 3 days of A, C, and E, ad libitum feed, or B, D, and F, feed restriction (Feed R’d). LH pulses are identified by open circles. Values (mean ± SEM) for G, mean LH; H, pulse frequency; and I, pulse amplitude were calculated across time (pre [–1.5 to 0 hours], white bars vs post [72-73.5 hours], black bars) and between treatment groups (n = 5 mice/group) by 2-way analysis of variance with time and treatment as factors. Unique letters signify significant differences between values (P < .05). Note, pulse amplitude was not calculated following feed restriction because no pulses were identified during the post period.