The effect of a-adrenergic and dopaminergic blockade on the ability of pituitary-hypothalamic axis to produce an LH surge in response to oestrogen, was studied in eleven women treated with the neuroleptic agents haloperidol, fluphenazine or chlorpromazine. Seven women on no medication were controls. 6.6 mg of oestradiol benzoate (OB) was injected i.m. after control serum was obtained and daily serum samples were obtained for four additional days. Sera were assayed for total oestrogens, LH, FSH and prolactin. Six of seven women in the control group and eight of eleven women treated with neuroleptic agents had LH surges to OB challenge. The mean prolactin of the treated women was 33.1 +/- 3.6(SEM) ng/ml and the mean prolactin of the controls was 14.9 +/- 1.5(SEM) ng/ml, P less than 0.005). Elevated levels of circulating prolactin did not prevent an LH surge to OB challenge. These results indicate that even in subjects with catecholamine blockade, an LH surge can be induced. This contrasts to results obtained in rats and suggests that the control mechanism of LH surge production differs in rodents and humans.