Prolactin gene expression and secretion during pregnancy and lactation in the rat: role of dopamine and vasoactive intestinal peptide

Endocrinology
J EscaladaF Sanchez-Franco

Abstract

It is known that dopamine (DA) is the major PRL-inhibiting factor, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is one of the most potent and physiological PRL-releasing factors. We have investigated the implication of DA and VIP in PRL gene expression and peptide secretion regulation during the physiological hyperprolactinemic states of pregnancy and lactation. Pregnant rats were studied on days 8, 15, and 20 of pregnancy. Lactating rats suckled by eight pups were studied on days 3 and 8 of postpartum, and nonsuckling postpartum rats were used as controls. Plasma estradiol, progesterone, and PRL were measured by RIA, as well as pituitary immunoreactive (IR-) PRL, pituitary IR-VIP, and hypothalamic IR-VIP. DA was studied by measuring changes in gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. TH, PRL, and VIP messenger RNA (mRNA) were assessed by Northern blot hybridization. The results showed very high plasma PRL levels in early pregnancy and during lactation, whereas plasma PRL concentrations were normalized at the end of gestation and in nonsuckling control rats. The physiological hyperprolactinemia of both early pregnancy and lactation correlated with higher pituitary PRL mRNA le...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 28, 2001·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·E E HuckeL F Felicio
Dec 15, 2010·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Karine Rizzoti
Feb 19, 2000·The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : Official Journal of the Histochemistry Society·T IwasakaY R Osamura
May 10, 2000·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·J López-FernándezM Karin
Aug 11, 2000·General and Comparative Endocrinology·T OhkuboK Nakashima

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