Pulsatile LH secretion in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat is inhibited by intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). VIP, rat growth hormone-releasing hormone (rGRH) and secretin with and without an antagonist to VIP, [4Cl-D-Phe6,Leu17]VIP (VIPA), were infused icv into OVX rats. Both VIP and rGRH at an infusion rate of 3.5 nmol/h lowered mean LH concentrations and pulse frequency without affecting pulse amplitude, and these effects were blocked by concurrent infusion of VIPA (10.5 nmol/h). Secretin also inhibited pulsatile LH secretion, but was only fully effective at the higher infusion rate of 7 nmol/h. This effect of secretin was also blocked by concurrent infusion of 10.5 nmol/h of VIPA. These results suggest that all three of these peptide hormones inhibit pulsatile LH secretion by an interaction with VIP receptors.