Protective effect of ectopic pituitary graft on nutritional stress-induced implantation failure in mice.

Implantation failure in newly inseminated mice induced by food deprivation was prevented by the presence of an ectopic pituitary graft. Since a pituitary graft in an ectopic site is known to secrete prolactin continuously, it is suggested that suppression of implantation failure in pituitary-grafted females is due to the luteotrophic support provided by the graft. The results provide supportive evidence for the view that depression of hypophysial prolactin is the primary endocrine cause of the nutritional stress-induced implantation failure in mice.