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Activation of GABA receptors in the hypothalamus stimulates secretion of growth hormone and prolactin.

Localized intracerebral microinjections of GABA, muscimol, picrotoxin and bicuculline were made in the anterior and basal hypothalamus to determine possible sites of action of GABA in the regulation of prolactin and growth hormone (GH) secretion. Studies were carried out in unanesthetized male rats with chronic indwelling atrial cannulae and intracerebral guide cannulae which permitted stress free blood sampling and intrahypothalamic injections, respectively. Preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area. (PO/AHA) injection of muscimol (0.16 nmol) stimulated both prolactin and GH secretion. GABA (1600 nmol) stimulated prolactin. Bicuculline (0.016 and 0.16 nmol) inhibited GH secretion. Medial basal hypothalamic (MBH) injection of muscimol (0.1 and 1.0 nmol) and GABA (1000 nmol) stimulated prolactin but had no effect on GH secretion. Picrotoxin and bicuculline did not stimulate GH. These findings indicate that activation of PO/AHA GABAergic receptors facilitates secretion of GH and prolactin and activation of MBH GABAergic receptors stimulates secretion of prolactin. It is proposed that GABA inhibits somatostatin neurons in the PO/AHA to facilitate GH and inhibits tuberoinfundibular dopamine or GABA neurons in the MBH to stimulate prolactin.

Animals↗

Prolactin release and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neuronal activity following single and double injections of morphine.

It is well established that opiate agonists alter tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic activity and consequently prolactin release. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of morphine on prolactin secretion and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neuronal activity with respect to time after administration. Additionally, the effect of an initial morphine injection on the response produced by a second injection of morphine was determined. The rate of depletion of median eminence dopamine content following synthesis inhibition by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine was used as an index of dopaminergic neuronal activity. Male rats given a single injection of morphine sulfate (15 mg/kg, s.c.) showed a significant increase in circulating prolactin levels and had a lower rate of median eminence dopamine turnover 1 h after injection. Four hours after injection, circulating prolactin levels were similar to those in vehicle treated rats, while dopamine turnover was significantly higher than controls. When two injections of morphine sulfate (15 mg/kg, s.c.) were given 4 h apart, the stimulation of prolactin release produced by the second injection was significantly attenuated. Although this second injection caused a significant decrease in dopamine turnover, the turnover rate following this injection was significantly greater than that following the initial injection. The combination of fluoxetine and 5-hydroxytryptophan (FLX/5-HTP) caused an initial increase in prolactin secretion with plasma values returning to basal levels by 4 h. When rats were pretreated with FLX/5-HTP instead of morphine, the prolactin response to an injection of morphine 4 h later was not attenuated. Similarly a FLX/5-HTP pretreatment had no influence on a second injection of FLX/5-HTP administered 4 h later.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

Further evidence for endogenous hypothalamic serotonergic neurons involved in the cimetidine-induced prolactin release in the rat.

The aim of the present work was to further explore the possible relationship between the prolactin-releasing effect of cimetidine and hypothalamic serotonergic neurons controlling pituitary hormone secretion. In a first approach, the prolactin-releasing effect of the drug was determined in adult male rats with total deafferentation of the hypothalamus. Cimetidine injection (60 mg/kg) produced a significant rise in prolactin, but not in luteinizing hormone (LH), both in deafferented rat and in sham-operated controls; by 15 min there was a 5-6 fold increase in prolactin titers. Methysergide, a serotonin receptor blocker, used in a dose (2.5 mg/kg), route (i.p.) and time (50 min earlier) which did not modify the hormone basal level in rats with total deafferentation of the hypothalamus, was able to prevent completely the prolactin release evoked by cimetidine. The same preventive effect on prolactin release was observed with the serotonin receptor blocker ketanserin (5 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min earlier). It is concluded that the prolactin-releasing effect of cimetidine is located at a hypothalamic level related to serotonergic neurons.

Animals↗

Prolactin inhibits the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Prolactin can modulate the adrenal medulla function, but it has not yet been established whether its action is directly exerted on the adrenal medulla cells. In this work, we have studied the effect of several concentrations of prolactin on the synthesis, storage and release of norepinephrine and epinephrine using cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. In these cells, prolactin inhibited the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the catecholamine synthesis, in a dose-dependent manner, from a concentration above 50 ng/ml of prolactin in the incubation medium. Surprisingly, this dose-dependent decrease was not accompanied by changes in the catecholamine release, since the secretion of both norepinephrine and epinephrine as well as the total catecholamine secretion were not significantly altered by the different prolactin concentrations. Moreover, the cellular content of both catecholamines was not altered by prolactin. In summary, these observations allow us to conclude that prolactin exerts a direct inhibitory effect on the tyrosine hydroxylase activity in cultured adrenal chromaffin cells without altering catecholamine release.

Adrenal Glands↗

Absence of D1 dopamine receptors that stimulate prolactin release in the rat pituitary.

It has been shown recently that SKF 38393-A (2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine-7-ol), a D-1 receptor agonist, possesses a prolactin-releasing effect in the rat, though the pituitary or central nervous system location of the receptors involved has not been clarified. The aim of our study was to elucidate this point. SKF 38393-A administered to freely moving adult female and male rats induced a striking, short-lived increase of basal prolactin levels. The prolactin stimulatory effect of SKF 38393-A was counteracted by pretreatment with SCH 23390, A D-1 receptor blocker. SKF 38393-A (10(-11)-10(-6)M) added to monolayer primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells from rats of both sexes failed to modify prolactin release. At higher concentrations (10(-5)-10(-4) M) the drug induced a slight inhibition of prolactin release. Similarly, SKF 38393-A failed to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in anterior pituitary membranes from rats of both sexes at low concentrations, while it inhibited enzyme activity at higher concentrations (10(-5)-10(-3) M). The latter effect was counteracted by concomitant addition of the antagonist of D-2 receptors, 1-sulpiride. These data demonstrate that: (1) the anterior pituitary does not contain D-1-dopamine receptors (positively coupled to adenylate cyclase) stimulatory to prolactin release; (2) the striking prolactin-releasing effect of SKF 38393-A in the rat is due to activation of extra-pituitary D-1 dopamine receptors; (3) SKF 38393-A, at high concentrations, is capable of activating pituitary D-2 receptors.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

Evidence for a differential interaction of buprenorphine with opiate receptor subtypes controlling prolactin secretion.

We studied the effects of various doses of the opiate derivative buprenorphine on serum prolactin levels and whether these effects could be counteracted by pretreatment with the opiate receptor blocker naloxone. The administration of increasing doses of buprenorphine exerted a dual effect on serum prolactin levels. At low doses (3, 10 and 30 micrograms/kg) this agent increased serum prolactin levels. This effect disappeared with increasing doses (100 and 300 micrograms/kg), and at the highest doses (1000 and 3000 micrograms/kg) the levels of serum prolactin decreased. Naloxone (30 mg/kg) decreased serum prolactin levels and reversed both the stimulatory and the inhibitory action of buprenorphine. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that buprenorphine could interfere with two different, but inter-dependent receptors: at low doses the oripavine derivative could act at one receptor site to cause an increase of serum prolactin, whereas at higher doses it could interact with a second site of lower affinity that is responsible for the inhibition of prolactin secretion. When buprenorphine (at high doses) activates the lower affinity site, the interaction with this receptor counteracts and reverses the effects of the high affinity site. On the basis of this hypothesis, naloxone should block both receptors.

Animals↗

Decrease of prolactin secretion via stimulation of pituitary dopamine D-2 receptors after application of talipexole and SND 919.

The present experiments were performed to investigate the effects of talipexole (B-HT 920) and SND 919 on prolactin release from the anterior pituitary glands of rats both in vivo and in vitro. The basal serum prolactin levels were reduced dose dependently by s.c. administration of talipexole or SND 919 at doses of 5-100 micrograms/kg. Daily treatment with estradiol (35 micrograms/kg for 3 days) increased serum prolactin levels in male rats to levels 4-fold higher than those of non-primed rats. This increase was suppressed by administration of talipexole or SND 919. In vitro, the spontaneous prolactin release into perfusates from isolated anterior pituitary was inhibited by talipexole or SND 919 added at concentrations ranging from 10(-9) to 10(-6) M. This inhibitory effect of SND 919 was blocked by concurrent application of a dopamine D-2 receptor antagonist, YM-09151-2. The spontaneous prolactin release from the anterior pituitary isolated from estradiol-primed rats was 2-fold higher than that from non-primed rats. This increased release was also inhibited by application of either drug. The inhibitory effects of these drugs were greater in estradiol-primed rats than in non-primed rats when expressed as percent inhibition of control prolactin release. The results suggest that talipexole and SND 919 have a selective dopamine D-2 receptor agonistic property and are almost completely effective to counteract the enhancement of prolactin release induced by estrogens via stimulation of dopamine D-2 receptors in the anterior pituitary.

Animals↗

Partial dopamine D2 receptor agonists antagonize prolactin-regulating D2 receptors in a transfected clonal cell line (GH4ZR7).

(-)-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine ((-)-3-PPP) and transdihydrolisuride (terguride, TDHL) are partial dopamine D2 receptor agonists displaying low intrinsic activity at normosensitive postsynaptic dopamine D2 receptors in brain while activating prolactin-regulating dopamine D2 receptors in male rats with an efficacy close to that of full dopamine D2 receptor agonists. In the present study we examined the effects of these partial dopamine D2 receptor agonists on prolactin release in vitro. For this purpose prolactin-producing tumour cells which have been transfected with the dopamine D2 receptor cDNA and hence which express a dopamine D2 receptor (short isoform) that is functionally active with respect to inhibition of adenylate cyclase and prolactin release (GH4ZR7; Albert et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1990) 265, 2098) were used. While the full dopamine D2 receptor agonists, quinpirole, (+)-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine ((+)-3-PPP) and dopamine induced a dose-dependent suppression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced prolactin release from GH4ZR7, both (-)-3-PPP and terguride were inactive. Furthermore, the prolactin-suppressive effects of dopamine and quinpirole were significantly antagonized by pretreatment with (-)-3-PPP and terguride. It is concluded that partial dopamine D2 receptor agonists, which activate male lactotroph dopamine D2 receptors in vivo, may antagonize dopamine D2 receptors on GH4ZR7 cells. There were similar results from an experiment using monolayers of anterior pituitary cells from male rats. Thus, in this in vitro preparation (+)-3-PPP suppressed spontaneous prolactin release while (-)-3-PPP again was inactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Involvement of the 5-HT2 receptor in the 5-HT receptor-mediated stimulation of prolactin release.

The present study examined the involvement of 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 receptors in the regulation of prolactin release in the rat. Both the mixed 5-HT2/5-HT1C receptor agonist, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), and the preferential 5-HT1C agonist, 2-chloro-6-(1-piperazinyl)pyrazine monohydrochloride (MK-212), elicited a significant increase in plasma prolactin concentration with DOI about 20 times more potent than MK-212. Treatment with DOI, but not with MK-212, induced head twitching in the rat, and this behavior was inhibited by both the mixed 5-HT2/5-HT1C receptor antagonist, ritanserin, and the selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, amperozide. DOI-induced prolactin release was also antagonized by ritanserin and amperozide, whereas only ritanserin affected MK-212-induced prolactin release. Furthermore, amperozide did not attenuate d-fenfluramine-elicited prolactin release, which is known to be antagonized by ritanserin. These data suggest that the pharmacological stimulation of prolactin release by DOI is mediated via the 5-HT2 receptor and that the 5-HT1C receptor may be of importance for the physiological regulation of prolactin release.

Amphetamines↗

Role of the Na(+)-Ca2+ and Na(+)-H+ antiporters in prolactin release from anterior pituitary cells in primary culture.

2',4'-dimethylbenzamilamiloride (DMB), a somewhat selective inhibitor of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, in concentrations of 10, 30 and 100 microM did not produce any significant effect on baseline prolactin release from anterior pituitary cells in primary culture. When prolactin secretion was stimulated by the inhibitor of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, ouabain, that activates the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger as a Ca(2+)-influx pathway, DMB was able to produce inhibition of prolactin secretion. 5-(N,N-hexamethylene) amiloride (HMA), another amiloride analog which specifically inhibits the Na(+)-H+ antiporter and has no inhibitory activity on the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, at the concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 microM, did not affect basal prolactin release whereas it significantly reduced prolactin release stimulated by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) (1 microM). These results suggest that the Na(+)-Ca2+ antiporter is involved in the process of prolactin release elicited by the inhibition of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase whereas the Na(+)-H+ antiporter is involved in the prolactin secretion elicited by TRH.

Amiloride↗

The effects of modifying incubation on prolactin secretion in free-living pied flycatchers.

Plasma prolactin concentrations in female pied flycatchers are high during incubation, but fall from 156 +/- 27 to 67 +/- 6 ng/ml (P less than 0.01) between 2 and 4 days after the young hatch. The timing of the fall in prolactin could be determined by factors associated with the hatching of the eggs and growth of the offspring; alternatively, prolactin may remain high for a fixed period (16 days) after the onset of incubation. To distinguish between these possibilities, eggs were exchanged between nest boxes to ensure incubation periods of either 10, 14, or 19 days by different females. The results showed that the period of high prolactin secretion was shortened by 2-4 days where the eggs hatched early, but, conversely, was not lengthened in those females with extended incubation periods, the levels actually falling in these birds before the eggs hatched. There was, however, a secondary rise in prolactin 3 days after hatching, when the level of 114 +/- 11 ng/ml 22 days after the onset of incubation was much higher than that (30 +/- 4 ng/ml) at a comparable stage in the control females. Thus, high prolactin secretion cannot be maintained for longer than 16-17 days in incubating birds, but newly hatched, naked young can stimulate prolactin release in female flycatchers over a flexible period.

Animals↗

The role of prolactin during incubation: comparative studies of three Diomedea albatrosses.

There is much recent evidence that prolactin is an important influence on parental and incubatory behaviour in birds. In this study prolactin was measured at various stages of the breeding cycle in three closely related albatrosses (the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans, the grey-headed albatross D. chrysostoma, and the black-browed albatross D. melanophris). Each species is monogamous, laying one egg, with the sexes sharing parental duties, including lengthy incubation shifts. In experiments where blood samples were taken daily throughout single incubation shifts (of both sexes) and every 3 hr for 36 hr, high prolactin levels were observed, but there was no indication of any changes that might suggest direct relationships between the hormone concentrations and incubatory behaviour. However, high prolactin levels were characteristic of the whole incubation period with a significant decline in concentrations towards the end of the brood-guard period. The timing of the decline in prolactin levels remained constant, even when the incubation period was artificially lengthened or shortened, as did the overall duration of the incubation-brood-guard period. Further experiments eliminated the possibility that the secretion of prolactin was a response to tactile stimulation of the brood patch by the egg. These results suggest that the incubation period is not endogenously timed but that prolactin may still affect the overall duration of the incubation-brood-guard period, although having little or no effect on the number or duration of incubation shifts.

Animals↗

Effects of salinity, hypophysectomy, and prolactin on whole-animal transepithelial potential in the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus.

We have examined whether two recently isolated forms of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) prolactin exert similar effects on osmoregulatory physiology. The effects of salinity, hypophysectomy, and replacement therapy with tilapia prolactins on whole-animal transepithelial potential (TEP), gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity, and plasma ions were determined. When intact fish adapted to 25% seawater (SW) were transferred to different salinities, TEP reached a steady state after 10 hr; TEP increased with increasing salinity from fresh water (FW) to 75% SW but was stable from 75 to 125% SW. Plasma osmolality, [Na+], and [Cl-] of these fish 24 hr after salinity change showed that fish in 100 and 125% SW had greater osmotic perturbation than those transferred to lower salinities. Following a 5-day recovery period in 25% SW, hypophysectomized fish transferred to FW for 10 hr had significantly lower TEP and plasma ion levels than either sham-operated fish or intact fish under the same conditions. Injection of hypophysectomized fish with "small" prolactin (tPRL177), "large" prolactin (tPRL188), or a combination of both (0.5 micrograms/g body weight) 22 hr and again 20 min prior to transfer from 25% SW to FW, restored TEP and plasma ion levels to those of sham-operated fish. Neither prolactin affected the TEP or plasma ions of sham-operated (intact) fish. Hypophysectomized fish had lower gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity than sham-operated fish in FW, but prolactin injections as described above did not affect gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity in either hypophysectomized or sham-operated fish. Our results indicate that the two forms of prolactin are indistinguishable with regard to several aspects of tilapia osmoregulation.

Animals↗

Concentrations of plasma prolactin and luteinizing hormone following nest deprivation and renesting in ring doves (Streptopelia risoria).

Ring doves with increased plasma prolactin and low plasma LH (Group A) or with low plasma prolactin and low plasma LH (Group B) which had been incubating sterile eggs for 12 or 18 days, respectively, had their nests and eggs removed for 3 days. Upon nest return, observations were made on the birds' readiness to renest and on changes in plasma prolactin and LH. Birds from Group A demonstrated a far greater tendency to resume incubation than birds from Group B. Nest deprivation resulted in a sharp fall in the concentration of plasma prolactin in birds which were deprived of their nests after 12 days of incubation (Group A). Following resumption of incubation no subsequent increase in the prolactin levels was observed in Group A or B. The concentration of plasma LH rose sharply after nest deprivation in both sexes of both groups and declined after return of the nests. Birds in Groups A and B which returned to their nests laid a new clutch of eggs while continuing to incubate. The total length of uninterrupted sitting following nest return was 20.9 +/- 0.48 days (n = 8). These results suggest that (1) once the mechanism responsible for the increase in plasma prolactin during incubation is disrupted, it cannot be reactivated unless the whole reproductive cycle is repeated. (2) The inhibition of LH secretion during incubation involves neural mechanisms which do not necessarily involve the anti-gonadotrophic action of prolactin.

Animals↗

Expression and partial purification of human prolactin in Escherichia coli.

1. Human prolactin has been expressed in Escherichia coli. A cDNA fragment coding for the signal sequence and the full length prolactin molecule was cloned into the expression vector pUR291 which directs the synthesis of a beta-galactosidase prolactin fusion protein when expressed in E. coli. 2. Cultures of E. coli harbouring the recombinant plasmid pJMBG62 produced a fusion protein of the appropriate molecular weight which was detected by Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antibody raised against pituitary-derived human prolactin. 3. The fusion protein was isolated from inclusion bodies in a partially pure form and it was used as immunogen to raise antibodies against human prolactin. 4. When this partially purified fusion protein was injected into rabbits it generated antisera with good prolactin titres in animals which were rested for one year following a disappointing primary immunization with purified human prolactin.

Blotting, Western↗

Use of serum prolactin for monitoring the therapeutic response in ovarian malignancy.

Serum prolactin level was estimated in 20 women with ovarian malignancy. High prolactin level was observed in 13 out of 20 women. However, no correlation was seen between prolactin level and the stage of the disease. Serial measurement of prolactin showed a correlation of prolactin level with tumor mass in three patients in which serial tumor mass volume measurements were available. A rise in serum prolactin level was observed in women who had recurrence of the disease. Although the current study is based on a relatively small number of patients, it may be concluded that serum prolactin level might be used as a tumor marker to monitor the therapeutic response in cases of ovarian malignancy.

Adolescent↗

Improved enzyme immunosorbent assay for mouse prolactin using penicillinase as label.

Enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) for mouse prolactin was established by modifying a method originally developed for human prolactin by Shrivastav et al. This simple, sensitive, rapid, and reproducible assay utilizes penicillinase as the labeling enzyme, rabbit anti-mouse prolactin antibody (Ab) and goat anti-rabbit Ig Ab as the first and second antibodies. Prolactin reference preparations and enzyme-conjugated prolactin were mixed with the first Ab and incubated for 0.5 h at 4 degrees C (24-48 h for serum samples). Then, the sample mixture was transferred to the wells of microtiter plate coated with the second Ab. After being kept at room temperature for 2 h, the plate was washed and filled with substrate solution (penicillin V). Absorbance at 620 nm was measured with an ELISA reader to quantitate the amount of conjugated prolactin bound to the second Ab. The prolactin levels obtained by this assay exhibited good correlation with those measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) (y = 0.95x + 9.14, r = 0.943), and the sensitivity of EIA was equivalent to that of RIA (1.7 ng/ml). The CVs of intra-assay and inter-assay by EIA for mouse serum samples ranged comparably to those by RIA.

Aminoquinolines↗

Mineralocorticoid and prolactin response to the dopamine antagonist metoclopramide in patients with primary aldosteronism.

Plasma mineralocorticoid and prolactin levels were evaluated before and 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after the administration of 10 mg metoclopramide in seven normotensive volunteers (42 +/- 5 (SD) years), as well as in ten patients with primary aldosteronism five with aldosterone-producing adenoma (49 +/- 4), and five with bilateral hyperplasia (47 +/- 3). Significant increases of plasma aldosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18-OH-B), and prolactin levels were observed in all normal subjects and in patients with primary aldosteronism after metoclopramide, whereas plasma 18-corticosterone, corticosterone, and cortisol levels as well as plasma renin activity did not change. The absolute increases of plasma aldosterone and 18-OH-B levels after metoclopramide were considerably higher in eight of the ten patients with primary aldosteronism. Furthermore, in patients with hyperplasia the maximum increase of aldosterone and 18-OH-B was delayed, as was the subsequent decrease of plasma aldosterone. Basal prolactin levels were within the normal range in all patients with primary aldosteronism, but the increase of prolactin observed 15 and 30 min after metoclopramide, was elevated in three patients with hyperplasia and in four patients with adenoma. For patients with primary aldosteronism, a positive correlation was found when the absolute maximum increase of plasma aldosterone levels after metoclopramide was plotted against the increase of prolactin (y = 1.11x - 101, r = 0.74, P less than 0.05). Our results suggest that prolactin, aldosterone, and 18-OH-B secretion is under increased inhibitory dopaminergic control in most of the patients with primary aldosteronism. The positive correlation between the metoclopramide-induced increase of plasma aldosterone and prolactin may indicate a common inhibitory dopaminergic mechanism, working on the pituitary and adrenal level.

Adenoma↗