Plasma levels of relaxin and progesterone in hysterectomized and pregnant gilts were determined from days 100-120 to evaluate the effects of purified porcine (p) LH and pPRL on the secretory activity of the aging corpora lutea. Gilts were bred on the second observed estrus or were hysterectomized between 6-8 days after estrus (estrus = day 0) and were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups; saline-treated control, im injections of pLH, and iv injections of pPRL from days 110-120. In control, pLH-treated, and pPRL-treated animals, average gestation lengths were 114 +/- 0.8, 116 +/- 1.9, and 115 +/- 0.5 days (+/- SE), respectively. The relaxin level in mated gilts on day 100 was less than 2 ng/ml; it began to increase after day 110 and peaked in control animals on day 113 (66 ng/ml), whereas in pLH- and pPRL-treated animals, prepartum peak values were greater (P less than 0.01) and occurred on days 113 (104 ng/ml) and 114 (117 ng/ml), respectively. Relaxin dropped to basal levels (less than 1 ng/ml) by day 115 in controls and by day 116 in both pLH- and pPRL-treated gilts. Although pLH and pPRL treatments markedly accentuated peak relaxin secretion, they did not significantly accelerate or delay parturition or delay the abrupt demise of the corpora lutea immediately postpartum. In hysterectomized gilts, relaxin began to increase after day 110, peaked in control animals on day 113 (27 ng/ml), and decreased abruptly thereafter to less than 4 ng/ml. In contrast, pLH caused an immediate release of relaxin on day 111 (23 ng/ml) and sustained elevated levels (P less than 0.01) of relaxin until day 118, but the original corpora lutea regressed. Relaxin in pPRL-treated animals increased steadily after day 110, reaching peak values by day 115 (29 ng/ml), and remained consistently elevated (P less than 0.01) until day 120. Progesterone secretion was maintained in the pPRL-treated hysterectomized gilts from days 110-120 by the original corpora lutea and with no luteinization of follicles or formation of new corpora lutea. It is evident from this study that administration of pPRL starting on day 110 enhanced and prolonged the preprogramed release of relaxin and maintained progesterone secretion by aging corpora lutea in hysterectomized animals until day 120.