METHODS AND KITS FOR MAINTAINING PREGNANCY, TREATING FOLLICULAR CYSTS, AND SYNCHRONIZING OVULATION USING LUTEINIZING HORMONE

摘要

This invention provides methods and kits for maintaining pregnancy in mammals.Pregnancy is maintained by administration of effective amounts of luteinizinghormone (LH) or chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Both LH and CG may be used alone,in combination with each other, or in combination with growth hormone (GH) orfollicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Hormones are administered on about Day 4to about Day 7 following insemination. Effective amounts of LH range fromabout 10 micrograms to about 25 milligrams, preferably about 2 to about 8 mg,and of CG range from about 100 IU (international units) to about 2000 IU.Mammals treatable by the methods of this invention include ungulates andrelated mammals, including bovines. Kits provided by this invention includeeffective amounts of one or more hormones, a device for administering thehormone(s) and instructions. This invention also provides methods for treatingfollicular cysts and for synchronizing ovulation in mammals using LH.