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Evidence for a Physiological Role for Oxytocin in the Control of Prolactin Secretion

Evidence for a Physiological Role for Oxytocin in the Control of Prolactin Secretion Abstract The presence of oxytocin (OT) in neuronal elements of the external layer of the median eminence and in hypophysial portal plasma suggests a role for the peptide in the control of anterior pituitary function. We have reported previously that OT stimulates PRL release in vitro; therefore, we attempted to establish evidence for a physiological PRL-releasing role for OT. Plasma OT levels rose significantly just before the PRL surges occurring during a suckling stimulus in lactating rats (10 min after pup reinstatement vs. 15 min for PRL) and 48 h after estrogen injection in ovariectomized (OVX) rats (at 1200 h vs. 1300 h). Dispersed anterior pituitary cells harvested from lactating female rats and OVX estrogen-primed rats released PRL in a specific, significant, and dose-related fashion when perifused in vitro with incubation medium containing 10−7–10−9m OT, doses similar to levels found previously in hypophysial portal plasma. Infusion of antiserum specific for OT into lactating females before pup reinstatement and into estrogenprimed OVX rats 2 h before the expected release of endogenous OT delayed and significantly reduced subsequent PRL surges compared to levels in saline-or normal rabbit serum-infused rats; however, PRL release was not completely abolished. These data indicate that OT plays a physiological role in the hypothalamic control of PRL secretion and further suggest the importance of multiple factors in coordinated regulation of PRL release. (Endocrinology119: 554–560, 1986) This content is only available as a PDF. Author notes * This, work was supported by NIH Grants HD-09988 and AM-10073. Copyright © 1986 by The Endocrine Society http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Endocrinology Oxford University Press

Evidence for a Physiological Role for Oxytocin in the Control of Prolactin Secretion

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References (24)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 by The Endocrine Society
ISSN
0013-7227
eISSN
1945-7170
DOI
10.1210/endo-119-2-554
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract The presence of oxytocin (OT) in neuronal elements of the external layer of the median eminence and in hypophysial portal plasma suggests a role for the peptide in the control of anterior pituitary function. We have reported previously that OT stimulates PRL release in vitro; therefore, we attempted to establish evidence for a physiological PRL-releasing role for OT. Plasma OT levels rose significantly just before the PRL surges occurring during a suckling stimulus in lactating rats (10 min after pup reinstatement vs. 15 min for PRL) and 48 h after estrogen injection in ovariectomized (OVX) rats (at 1200 h vs. 1300 h). Dispersed anterior pituitary cells harvested from lactating female rats and OVX estrogen-primed rats released PRL in a specific, significant, and dose-related fashion when perifused in vitro with incubation medium containing 10−7–10−9m OT, doses similar to levels found previously in hypophysial portal plasma. Infusion of antiserum specific for OT into lactating females before pup reinstatement and into estrogenprimed OVX rats 2 h before the expected release of endogenous OT delayed and significantly reduced subsequent PRL surges compared to levels in saline-or normal rabbit serum-infused rats; however, PRL release was not completely abolished. These data indicate that OT plays a physiological role in the hypothalamic control of PRL secretion and further suggest the importance of multiple factors in coordinated regulation of PRL release. (Endocrinology119: 554–560, 1986) This content is only available as a PDF. Author notes * This, work was supported by NIH Grants HD-09988 and AM-10073. Copyright © 1986 by The Endocrine Society

Journal

Endocrinology – Oxford University Press

Published: Aug 1, 1986

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