The occurrence and profile of the preovulatory hypothalamic GnRH surge in relation to plasma profiles of LH and ovarian steroids, i.e. 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), were examined in ovarian intact, freely moving rhesus macaques. Nine monkeys with active ovarian cycles were each fitted with a jugular venous catheter and two push-pull cannulae directed to separate sites within the median eminence (ME). Each female was connected continuously to a tether/swivel device through which daily blood samples or frequent blood samples and ME perfusates (simultaneously at 10- to 20-min intervals for 18-24 h) were obtained without disturbing the animals. An increment in the plasma E2 level (> 150 pg/ml) during the follicular phase (FP) was selected as the preovulatory ovarian signal and served as the index for initiating the ME push-pull perfusion (PPP). Daily increased P4 concentrations of more than 1 ng P4/ml plasma for several consecutive days were consistent with the assumption of ovulation and subsequent formation of a corpus luteum after PPP. A total of 18 PPP trials were completed; each in a fresh ME site. Five of these PPPs were performed during the mid- and late FP (3 were between 6-8 days before and 2 were 4 days before the E2 peak). The remaining 13 PPPs, each of 18- to 24-h duration, were performed between 24 h before and 48 h after the highest daily plasma E2 level, i.e. time zero. Of these 13 PPPs, 2 started within 12 h before (-12 to 0 h), 8 began within 12 h after (0-12 h), and 3 started between 12-24 h after this peak E2 value. During the FP, mean levels of GnRH and LH were less than 2 pg/ml and 20 ng/ml, respectively. During the periovulatory interval (-24 to 48 h around time zero), the release of hypothalamic GnRH (expressed in picograms per ml) increased to 6.63 +/- 2.35 between -12 to 0 h (n = 2), peaked at 20.70 +/- 6.09 between 0-12 h (n = 10), declined to 3.25 +/- 1.39 between 12-24 h (n = 11), and further declined to 0.89 +/- 0.18 between 24-36 h (n = 3). The mean GnRH value from 0-12 h was higher (P < 0.05) than other means (including those during the FP), except for the value between -12 to 0 h. Changes in mean plasma LH values during the same periods paralleled those in GnRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)