This study examined the alterations in episodic luteinizing hormone (LH) release in response to third ventricle infusions of various alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists in ovariectomized (OVX) rats as well as the effects of steroid priming with 50 micrograms estradiol benzoate (EB) and 25 mg progesterone (P) on the LH responses to these agonists. Unanesthetized rats with indwelling atrial cannulae were bled at 10-min intervals for 0.5-1.5 h prior to infusion and up to 1.5 h following infusion of equimolar amounts (0.06 or 0.3 mumol in 2 microliters saline adjusted to pH 5.5 and infused slowly over a 2-min period) of norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine (Phen, alpha 1-agonist), isoproterenol (Iso, beta-agonist) or clonidine (Clon, alpha 2-agonist). In unprimed OVX rats, 0.06 mumol NE induced a significant lengthening (by approximately 121%) of the episodic interval between the peak LH levels and caused a decrease in mean blood LH levels of approximately 24%, which began almost immediately and lasted for approximately 1 h after infusion. When administered in the same manner and dosage, both alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists were similarly effective in suppressing pulsatile LH release in OVX unprimed rats, with the following rank order being apparent: Clon greater than NE congruent to Phen greater than Iso. However, in OVX-EBP-primed rats, while 0.06 mumol NE significantly stimulated LH release, none of the other adrenoceptor agonists administered at this dosage was effective in altering the low nonpulsatile levels of blood LH characteristic of the steroid-primed animal. Nevertheless, at a concentration 5 times higher (0.3 mumol) Clon and Phen did induce LH surges while Iso, even at this higher dose, was not stimulatory to LH release. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of NE on LH secretion in OVX rats may be exerted via activation of both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors, whereas primarily alpha-adrenoceptors are responsible for mediating the NE-induced stimulation of LH release in OVX steroid-primed animals.