Difference between mammary epithelial cells from mature virgin and primiparous mice.
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Mammary epithelial cells from mature virgin mice are similar to those from primiparous mice in several respects. However, there is one known difference. The cells from the mature virgin must traverse the cell cycle in order to become competent to make casein and enzymatically active alpha-lactalbumin in vitro; those from the primiparous animal can make these proteins without first traversing the cycle. In this regard, cells from human placental lactogen- and prolactin-treated mature virgins are, after involution, similar to those from primiparous mice. The developemental block in the cells from the mature virgin, imposed by preventing cell cycle traversal, has been partially delineated. It does not appear to reside at the levels of ultrastructural maturation or the formation of casein messenger RNA. Rather, the lesion is postranscriptional and may be at the level of translation, or posttranslational modification, or both. (+info)
Vasopressin stimulation of acetate incorporation into lipids in a dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumor cell line.
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In a preliminary report we described the effects of rat prolactin on the incorporation of [14C]acetate into lipids by a cell line from a dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumor. The characteristics of the response to prolactin were very similar to those described for the normal rat mammary gland; namely, insulin was required for full expression of the response, maximal activity was not seen until 36 hr after the addition of the hormones, and growth hormone was able to elicit the same response. However, we were unable to detect binding of 125I-labeled prolactin to these cells, and furthermore, other more purified prolactin preparations were inactive. Upon further investigation we discovered that the activity resided in a low-molecular-weight fraction of the rat prolactin B-1 preparation and was probably either vasopressin or oxytocin or both. These data suggest the possibility that vasopressin may play a role in rodent mammary tumorigenesis. (+info)
Prolactin replacement fails to inhibit reactivation of gonadotropin secretion in rams treated with melatonin under long days.
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This study tested the hypothesis that prolactin (PRL) inhibits gonadotropin secretion in rams maintained under long days and that treatment with melatonin (s.c. continuous-release implant; MEL-IMP) reactivates the reproductive axis by suppressing PRL secretion. Adult Soay rams were maintained under long days (16L:8D) and received 1) no further treatment (control, C); 2) MEL-IMP for 16 wk and injections of saline/vehicle for the first 8 wk (M); 3) MEL-IMP for 16 wk and exogenous PRL (s.c. 5 mg ovine PRL 3x daily) for the first 8 wk (M+P). The treatment with melatonin induced a rapid increase in the blood concentrations of FSH and testosterone, rapid growth of the testes, an increase in the frequency of LH pulses, and a decrease in the LH response to N-methyl-D,L-aspartic acid. The concomitant treatment with exogenous PRL had no effect on these reproductive responses but caused a significant delay in the timing of the sexual skin color and growth of the winter pelage. These results do not support the hypothesis and suggest that PRL at physiological long-day concentrations, while being totally ineffective as an inhibitor of gonadotropin secretion, acts in the peripheral tissues and skin to maintain summer characteristics. (+info)
Sex steroid and prolactin profiles in male American black bears (Ursus americanus) during denning.
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Serum sex steroid and prolactin profiles were examined in the male American black bear, Ursus americanus during denning. Sera collected in December and the following March from 8 denning male black bears in Minnesota, U.S.A. were assayed for testosterone, estradiol-17 beta and prolactin. Eight bears were confirmed to be the denning mode based on a serum urea to creatinine ratio less than 10. Serum testosterone concentrations tended to increase from December to the subsequent March whereas serum estradiol-17 beta concentrations tended to decrease during this period. There were few changes in serum prolactin concentrations between December and March. These findings suggest that spermatogenesis and testicular steroidogenesis initiated during denning may be influenced by changes in serum sex steroid concentrations in the American black bear. (+info)
Marker genes of decidualization: activation of the decidual prolactin gene.
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Decidualization of human endometrial stromal (ES) cells in vitro is induced by cAMP analogues and ligands that elevate cellular cAMP levels in a manner resembling the gonadotrophins, prostaglandin E2 and relaxin (RLX). This differentiation process is marked by the onset of decidual prolactin (PRL) production in the late luteal phase of the cycle. Using transfection assays and a primary ES cell culture system, we have demonstrated that decidual PRL gene transcription is driven by an alternative upstream promoter (dPRL), approximately 6 kb upstream of the pituitary transcription start site. In primary cell cultures, RLX not only acutely but also permanently elevated cellular cAMP levels and induced PRL secretion after 6 days. Northern and Western blot analyses revealed all regulatory subunit isoforms (RIalpha, RIbeta, RIIalpha, RIIbeta) and catalytic subunits Calpha and Cbeta of protein kinase A (PKA) in ES cells. Transcript levels of PKA subunit isoforms are not altered during decidualization, but in decidualized ES cells exposed to elevated cellular cAMP levels by stimulation with RLX for >6 days, RIalpha protein levels were significantly reduced, whereas levels of all other forms remained unchanged. Reducing the availability of R subunits changed the R:C subunit ratio in favour of C and increased kinase activity. In transient transfections of undifferentiated ES cells, the dPRL promoter was activated by 8-Br-cAMP and by C subunit (Cbeta) of PKA. This induction, and the differentiation-dependent activity of the dPRL promoter in transfected decidualized cells, was effectively abolished by the co-expression of protein kinase inhibitor (PKI). A fragment of 332 bp of 5'-flanking region of the dPRL transcription start site was sufficient to mediate full inducibility by cAMP. cAMP activation of the dPRL promoter in ES cells was biphasic as an initial weak induction within 12 hours was followed by a subsequent, much more intense induction after 12 hours. The secondary induction was not seen with a control construct driven by a consensus cAMP response element (CRE) linked to a minimal promoter. The early response of the dPRL promoter depended upon a non-palindromic CRE at position -12 and mutation of this sequence led to omission of the early, but not of the delayed, induction. The major activation of the dPRL promoter depended upon a different region between position -332 and -270 since its deletion significantly reduced inducibility by cAMP. Its action was probably indirect as its kinetics differed from classic CRE-mediated responses, and it was specific to ES cells. (+info)
The prolactin gene is expressed in the mouse kidney.
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BACKGROUND: Prolactin (PRL), originally identified as an anterior pituitary hormone exhibiting lactogenic activity, is now recognized as a versatile hormone expressed in a wide variety of tissues. METHODS: In this study, the expression of PRL in the mouse kidney was investigated by solution-phase and in situ reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Mouse PRL (mPRL) transcript and protein are localized in the parietal epithelial cells of Bowman's capsule. Pit-1 is a positive transcription factor for the expression of the PRL gene. The presence of Pit-1 transcript in the kidney was also assessed by RT-PCR methods. The localization of Pit-1 mRNA coincided well with that of PRL. Immunoreactivity to mouse PRL receptor (mPRL-R) is distributed on the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule cells and the parietal epithelial cells of Bowman's capsule. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the parietal epithelial cells of Bowman's capsule synthesize PRL de novo and suggest that Pit-1 contributes to the transcriptional regulation of PRL gene expression in the kidney, and PRL expressed in this tissue functions in an autocrine/paracrine fashion. (+info)
Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 infusion synchronizes growth hormone, thyrotrophin and prolactin release in prolonged critical illness.
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OBJECTIVE: During prolonged critical illness, nocturnal pulsatile secretion of GH, TSH and prolactin (PRL) is uniformly reduced but remains responsive to the continuous infusion of GH secretagogues and TRH. Whether such (pertinent) secretagogues would synchronize pituitary secretion of GH, TSH and/or PRL is not known. DESIGN AND METHODS: We explored temporal coupling among GH, TSH and PRL release by calculating cross-correlation among GH, TSH and PRL serum concentration profiles in 86 time series obtained from prolonged critically ill patients by nocturnal blood sampling every 20 min for 9 h during 21-h infusions of either placebo (n=22), GHRH (1 microg/kg/h; n=10), GH-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2; 1 microg/kg/h; n=28), TRH (1 microg/kg/h; n=8) or combinations of these agonists (n=8). RESULTS: The normal synchrony among GH, TSH and PRL was absent during placebo delivery. Infusion of GHRP-2, but not GHRH or TRH, markedly synchronized serum profiles of GH, TSH and PRL (all P< or =0.007). After addition of GHRH and TRH to the infusion of GHRP-2, only the synchrony between GH and PRL was maintained (P=0.003 for GHRH + GHRP-2 and P=0.006 for TRH + GHRH + GHRP-2), and was more marked than with GHRP-2 infusion alone (P=0.0006 by ANOVA). CONCLUSIONS: The nocturnal GH, TSH and PRL secretory patterns during prolonged critical illness are herewith further characterized to include loss of synchrony among GH, TSH and PRL release. The synchronizing effect of an exogenous GHRP-2 drive, but not of GHRH or TRH, suggests that the presumed endogenous GHRP-like ligand may participate in the orchestration of coordinated anterior pituitary hormone release. (+info)
Trans-sphenoidal surgery for microprolactinoma: an acceptable alternative to dopamine agonists?
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AIMS: Reported cure rates following trans-sphenoidal surgery for microprolactinoma are variable and recurrence rates in some series are high. We wished to examine the cure rate of trans-sphenoidal surgery for microprolactinoma, and to assess the long-term complications and recurrence rate. DESIGN: A retrospective review of the outcome of trans-sphenoidal surgery for microprolactinoma, performed by a single neurosurgeon at a tertiary referral centre between 1976 and 1997. PATIENTS: All thirty-two patients operated on for microprolactinoma were female, with a mean age of 31 years (range 16-49). Indications for surgery were intolerance of dopamine agonists in ten (31%), resistance in six (19%) and resistance and intolerance in four (12.5%). Two patients were from countries where dopamine agonists were unavailable. RESULTS: The mean pre-operative prolactin level was 2933 mU/l (range 1125-6000). All but 1 had amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea, with galactorrhoea in 15 (46.9%). Twenty-five (78%) were cured by trans-sphenoidal surgery, as judged by a post-operative serum prolactin in the normal range. During a mean follow-up of 70 months (range 2 months to 16 years) there was one recurrence at 12 years. Post-operatively, one patient became LH deficient, two patients became cortisol deficient and two became TSH deficient. Out of 21 patients tested for post-operative growth hormone deficiency, 6 (28.6%) were deficient. Five patients developed post-operative diabetes insipidus which persisted for greater than 6 months. There were no other complications of surgery. The estimated cost of uncomplicated trans-sphenoidal surgery, and follow-up over 10 years, was similar to that of dopamine agonist therapy. CONCLUSION: In patients with hyperprolactinaemia due to a pituitary microprolactinoma, transsphenoidal surgery by an experienced pituitary surgeon should be considered as a potentially curative procedure. The cost of treatment over a 10 year period is similar in uncomplicated cases to long-term dopamine agonist therapy. (+info)