Dopamine-induced inhibition of prolactin release from cultured adenohypophysial cells: spare receptors for dopamine

Genistein, a phytoestrogen, effectively modulates luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion in ovariectomized ewes during seasonal anestrus

Through binding with estrogen receptors, phytoestrogens, plant-derived estrogen-like compounds, affect numerous reproductive functions. It is not known whether these compounds are capable of evoking effective changes in luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion in ewes by acting directly within the central nervous system (CNS). The hypothesis studied was that genistein, infused for several hours into the third ventricle, could immediately affect LH and PRL secretion in ovariectomized (OVX) ewes during seasonal anestrus. Two doses of genistein, 1 microg/100 microl/h (total 4 microg, n = 7) and 10 microg/100 microl/h (total 40 microg, n = 7), were infused intracerebroventricularly from 12.00 to 16.00 h and blood samples were collected from 8.00 to 20.00 h at 10-min intervals. Randomly selected ewes were infused with a vehicle (control, n = 5). The mean plasma LH concentration in control ewes was significantly (p < 0.01) higher during infusion of the vehicle than before the infusion. It remained on an insignificantly changed level after the infusion. The frequency of LH pulses in control ewes did not differ significantly before, during, or after vehicle infusion. In ewes infused with a lower dose of genistein, plasma LH concentrations decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after the infusion, as compared with the values noted before and during genistein infusion. Only a tendency towards a decrease in LH pulse frequency occurred after infusion of a lower dose of genistein. In ewes infused with a higher dose of genistein, the plasma LH concentration decreased significantly (p < 0.01) after phytoestrogen administration as compared with the values noted before and during infusion. The frequency of LH pulses was also significantly (p < 0.01) lower after genistein administration. Because the changes in PRL secretion were more dynamic in response to genistein infusion, the statistical analysis included 2-hour periods. The mean plasma PRL concentration in control animals was significantly enhanced (p < 0.01) only during the first 2-hour period of sampling. After that it decreased and remained on an unchanged level up to the end of sampling. Similar changes in PRL secretion were observed in both experimental groups before genistein infusion. In contrast, significant (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001) increases in PRL concentration were noted regularly during and shortly after the genistein infusion in either low-dose or high-dose genistein-infused ewes, compared with the concentrations noted before genistein treatment. Plasma PRL concentrations during and after genistein infusion in both experimental groups were also significantly higher than the control (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). The presented data demonstrate that genistein, a phytoestrogen, may effectively modulate LH and PRL secretion in OVX ewes by acting within the CNS.

Prolactin: structure, function, and regulation of secretion

Prolactin is a protein hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that was originally named for its ability to promote lactation in response to the suckling stimulus of hungry young mammals. We now know that prolactin is not as simple as originally described. Indeed, chemically, prolactin appears in a multiplicity of posttranslational forms ranging from size variants to chemical modifications such as phosphorylation or glycosylation. It is not only synthesized in the pituitary gland, as originally described, but also within the central nervous system, the immune system, the uterus and its associated tissues of conception, and even the mammary gland itself. Moreover, its biological actions are not limited solely to reproduction because it has been shown to control a variety of behaviors and even play a role in homeostasis. Prolactin-releasing stimuli not only include the nursing stimulus, but light, audition, olfaction, and stress can serve a stimulatory role. Finally, although it is well known that dopamine of hypothalamic origin provides inhibitory control over the secretion of prolactin, other factors within the brain, pituitary gland, and peripheral organs have been shown to inhibit or stimulate prolactin secretion as well. It is the purpose of this review to provide a comprehensive survey of our current understanding of prolactin's function and its regulation and to expose some of the controversies still existing.

Ovarian steroids modulate responsiveness to dopamine and expression of G-proteins in lactotropes

The effects of chronic ovarian steroid treatment on the secretory activity of individual lactotropes and the mechanisms modulating their responsiveness to dopamine (DA) were studied. Female rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and implanted with Silastic capsules containing progesterone (P4), 17beta), 17beta-estradiol (E2) or both E2 (E2+P4). Ten days after surgery, anterior pituitaries were enzymatically dispersed and the reverse hemolytic plaque assay (RHPA) was performed to assess the release of prolactin (PRL) from individual lactotropes. RHPA was combined with immunocytochemistry (ICC) for PRL, Galphas or Gialpha3/Galphao proteins. E2 treatment alone or in combination with P4 increased the percentage of immunoreactive lactotropes among anterior pituitary cells. Incidence of active (plaque-forming) lactotropes, however, was increased both in P4-, and E2-treated rats and E2+P4 treatment increased it even further. While P4 treatment did not affect the frequency distribution of lactotropes, both E2 and E2+P4 treatments increased the large plaque-forming lactotrope population. This increase was reflected by the significantly greater mean plaque areas of lactotropes from E2- and E2+P4-treated rats compared to OVX or P4-treated animals. The responsiveness of lactotropes to DA from P4-treated rats did not differ from that of OVX rats: thus challenge with 1 microM DA inhibited the release of PRL, while 100 pM DA had no effect. E2 and E2+P4 treatments, however, profoundly changed the lactotrope's responsiveness: challenge with 1 microM DA had no effect and 100 pM DA resulted in moderate stimulation of PRL release in E2+P4 rats. Double-label ICC revealed that ovarian steroid treatments did not affect the expression of Galphas in lactotropes. The incidence of Gialpha3/Galphao-immunoreactive lactotropes, however, decreased after E2 treatment, alone or in combination with P4. Although expression of Galphas was similar in all plaque-forming cells regardless of plaque size, lactotropes expressing Gialpha3/Galphao were more likely to form small plaques in all treatment groups. These data suggest: (1) ovarian steroid treatment recruits quiescent lactotropes to release PRL; (2) E2 treatment alone or in combination with P4 increases the amount of PRL rleased by individual lactotropes; (3) E2-induced alterations in the frequency distribution and lactotrope responsiveness to DA may be due in part to a decreased expression of Gialpha3/Galphao.

Relationships between dopamine-induced changes in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and rate of prolactin secretion. Elevated [Ca2+]i does not indicate prolactin release

This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between dopamine (DA) induced changes in the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and the rate of prolactin secretion using GH4ZR7, a rat pituitary cell line, which express only one subtype of D2 receptor. GH4ZR7 cells were loaded with Fluo-3, a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, and then perifused with two different doses of DA (10(-7) mol/L and 5 x 10(-4) mol/L). We monitored changes in [Ca2+]i and rate of prolactin release simultaneously by attaching a spectrofluorometer to a dynamic perifusion system. DA has stimulatory and inhibitory effect on prolactin secretion in GH4ZR7 cells; 10(-7) mol/LDA slightly increased [Ca2+]i and stimulated prolactin release, whereas 5 x 10(-4) mol/LDA decreased [Ca2+]i and inhibited prolactin secretion. When the cells were pretreated with pertussis toxin (PTX), 10(-7) mol/L DA had no significant change in [Ca2+]i while stimulating prolactin release, and 5 x 10(-4) mol/L DA reduced [Ca2+]i without having any significant effect on the rate of prolactin secretion. The results of this study demonstrate that changes in [Ca2+]i do not always correlate with the rate of prolactin release from lactotrophs. The dissociation between [Ca2+]i and prolactin release is somewhat expected considering the diverse role of [Ca2+]i and post-[Ca2+]i events, which can change the rate of prolactin release.

Dopamine D2 receptor mediates both inhibitory and stimulatory actions on prolactin release

Dopamine is considered to be the major physiological tonic inhibitor of prolactin release, yet there is increasing evidence showing that it can also stimulate prolactin release from lactotrophs. In primary cultured lactotrophs, the major dopamine receptors responsible for inhibiting prolactin release are dopamine D2 receptors. A dopamine receptor subtype may be responsible for the stimulatory action, yet one cannot exclude the possibility that a dopamine D2 receptor can play dual roles. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate if dopamine both stimulates and inhibits prolactin secretion through activation of the same dopamine D2 receptor. GH4ZR7 cells, which have only one type of dopamine receptors--D2s, were perifused with different concentrations of dopamine, and the perifusate was assayed for prolactin; 10(-7) mol/L dopamine stimulated prolactin release (p < 0.05; n = 5), whereas 5 x 10(-4) mol/L dopamine inhibited prolactin secretion (p < 0.05; n = 5). In the pertussis toxin-treated cells, 10(-7) mol/L dopamine stimulated prolactin release (p < 0.05; n = 5), and 5 x 10(-4) mol/L dopamine did not significantly change the rate of prolactin release. These results indicate that both the stimulatory and inhibitory actions of dopamine are likely mediated by the same D2 receptor subtype, since GH4ZR7 cells express only D2s receptors. They also confirm that the inhibitory action of dopamine is mediated through a Gi protein; and the stimulatory action of dopamine is mediated through a PTX-insensitive pathway. These findings suggest that D2 receptors are coupled to both Gi and Gs proteins.

Dopamine requires ascorbic acid to be the prolactin release-inhibiting factor

A high concentration of dopamine (10(-6) mol/l) inhibited prolactin release for < 60 min during a 2-h perifusion period by use of primary cultured pituitary cells. However, when dopamine (10(-6) mol/l) and control medium were alternately perifused, dopamine inhibited prolactin release for a longer period, indicating that the inability of dopamine to sustain an inhibitory action is likely caused by decreased sensitivity of the lactotrophs to dopamine. When 3 x 10(-7) mol/l dopamine was perifused, prolactin release was inhibited for only 15 min, and the rate of prolactin release was decreased to a nadir by addition of ascorbic acid (10(-4) mol/l) 15 min after the start of dopamine perifusion. Dopamine decreased density of dopamine D2 receptors, and ascorbic acid inhibited the receptor downregulation in GH4ZR7 cells. These results support our hypothesis that dopamine requires a supplementary agent to be the prolactin release-inhibiting factor and that the supplementary agent is ascorbic acid.

Effects of the estrous cycle stage on the prolactin secretory response to dopamine in vitro

Dopamine (DA) will both stimulate and inhibit prolactin (PRL) secretion from the anterior pituitary gland in vitro and in vivo. The present study was designed to determine if there are selected times during the estrous cycle of the rat when one function is favored over the other. Anterior pituitary glands collected on diestrus-1 (D1), diestrus-2 (D2), the morning of proestrus (Pro-AM), the afternoon of proestrus (Pro-PM), and estrus (E) were enzymatically dissociated and placed in monolayer culture. On the fourth day in culture, cells were challenged for 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, 180, or 240 min with media alone or media containing either 100 pM or 1 μM DA. The concentration of PRL in the media was determined by radioimmunoassay. Regression analysis revealed that in the absence of DA, PRL secretion from cultured cells differed significantly depending on the stage of the estrous cycle during which they were obtained. Cells obtained during the morning of diestrus-2 secreted PRL at the greatest rate compared to other stages of the cycle. When all stages were compared, the rates of PRL secretion were: D2>E>D1>Pro-AM>Pro-PM (each significantly different from the others,P<0.01). By 20-30 min of exposure to 100 pM DA, the rate of PRL secretion from cells obtained during each stage of the cycle was significantly enhanced. This enhanced secretion persisted in cells obtained during D2 and Pro-PM but was short-lived in cells obtained during other stages. No inhibition of PRL secretion was induced by this dose of DA. PRL secretion was inhibited when treated with 1 μM DA in cells obtained at all stages of the estrous cycle. Inhibition was more prolonged in cells obtained on D1, D2, and Pro-AM. DA was least effective as an inhibitor of PRL secretion in cells obtained during Pro-PM and E. Prior to inhibiting PRL secretion in cells obtained during Pro-PM, 1 μM DA rapidly stimulated PRL secretion. This effect persisted for 60 min. These data suggest that in the absence of DA, the dynamics of PRL secretion from anterior pituitary cells in vitro differ depending on the stage of the estrous cycle during which the cells were obtained. Moreover, the in vivo environment of the cell determines the direction and magnitude of the PRL-secretory response to DA.

Measurement of prolactin release and cytosolic calcium in estradiol-primed lactotrophs

We have developed a perifusion system that can measure both changes of cytosolic free calcium concentration [Ca2+]i and prolactin release simultaneously from cultured lactotrophs. This model incorporated a commonly-used perifusion system to a spectrofluorometer. Indo-1 loaded cells were injected into Sephadex G-150 matrix in the cuvette at a site where the emitting light of the fluorometer projects. During perifusion periods, the perifusate was collected in a fraction collector, while optical density of the emitting light at 405 nm was recorded. The [Ca2+]i was calculated based on an ionomycin and Mn2+ quenching technique. As expected, TRH (1 mumol/l) stimulated prolactin release from cultured lactotrophs in this system. We further observed that prolactin releases as induced by TRH and ionomycin were not proportional with changes of the [Ca2+]i, suggesting that changes of [Ca2+]i is not the sole final pathway of intracellular transduction systems for prolactin release.

A high concentration of dopamine preferentially permitted release of newly synthesized prolactin

We used continuous labelling ([3H]leucine) of cultured adenohypophysial cells to investigate the relationship between the storage and release of newly synthesized and stored prolactin in response to dopamine (1 mumol/l) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (0.1 mumol/l) challenge. Newly synthesized prolactin was identified by the tritium radiation activity incorporated in prolactin. A maximal dose of dopamine (1 mumol/l) could not completely block prolactin release from a primary culture of lactotrophs. During 3 h of continuous labelling under maximal dopaminergic inhibition, newly synthesized prolactin was released which was of a significantly higher specific activity than control groups. In contrast, TRH stimulation produced results consistent with previous observations of the release of predominantly old, stored hormone. However, the absolute amount of the newly synthesized prolactin was increased by the TRH administration, and the increased release of the newly synthesized prolactin could be accounted for by increased levels of synthesis. Our results are consistent with the concept of the existence of a regulated route and a dopamine-insensitive constitutive route of prolactin release which predominantly encompasses newly synthesized hormone. However, the possibility that cellular heterogeneity or that non-dopaminergic prolactin-release inhibiting factor(s) (PIF) is responsible for this observed release cannot be ruled out.

Use of GH4C1 cell variants to demonstrate a non-spare receptor model for thyrotropin-releasing hormone action

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates maximally both the release of previously synthesized prolactin and the de novo synthesis of prolactin by GH4C1 rat pituitary cells at concentrations less than those necessary to fully occupy the TRH receptor at equilibrium. We have examined the dependency of maximal TRH-enhanced prolactin release and synthesis on receptor number using GH4C1 cell variants with different numbers of TRH receptors. GH4C1 cell variants with increased and decreased numbers of TRH receptors were selected by using a morphological response known as stretching which renders the cells more adherent to the tissue culture substrate. We found that maximal TRH-enhancement of prolactin release or synthesis increased proportionally to the number of TRH receptors per cell, indicating that spare receptors do not exist for TRH on these GH4C1 cells. We also found that occupancy of the TRH receptor by the analogue, N3im-methyl-TRH (MeTRH), in contrast to TRH, closely paralleled stimulated prolactin release in a manner consistent with Clark's receptor-occupancy model. We conclude that differences between apparent Kd and ED50 for TRH do not necessarily result from spare receptors in GH4C1 cells.

Basal and dopamine-inhibited prolactin secretion by rat anterior pituitary cells: effects of culture conditions

Culture conditions for rat pituitary cells were investigated which would result in high PRL synthesis and secretion with maintenance of dopamine-mediated inhibition of PRL secretion. From five commercially available media, RPMI resulted in the highest PRL content and secretion, but no inhibition of PRL secretion by dopamine was observed. MEM with Earle's salts fulfilled best our requirements for culturing functional PRL-secreting cells. PRL secretion was not affected by variations in the concentration of fetal calf serum, but was positively correlated with increasing horse serum concentrations. TRH-induced PRL release increased with increasing serum concentrations and was positively correlated with the concentration of 17 beta-estradiol in the culture medium (P less than 0.0025). An increase in the sodium bicarbonate concentration from 0.85 to 3.0 g/l resulted in a 4-fold stimulation of PRL synthesis and in a 27-fold stimulation of PRL secretion. However, at bicarbonate concentrations above 2.6 g/l, inhibition of PRL secretion by 500 nM dopamine was lost. The addition of 20 mM Hepes to the culture medium decreased basal PRL secretion by 48 +/- 13% (P less than 0.01), while dopamine inhibition of PRL secretion was reduced from 49 +/- 10% to 24 +/- 8% (P less than 0.05). When an increasing number of pituitary cells was cultured in a constant volume, PRL secretion expressed per cell increased up to 0.3-0.4 X 10(6) cells/dish/2 ml. With higher cell concentrations of up to 1 X 10(6) cells/dish, PRL secretion per cell diminished significantly, which indicates a direct negative feedback of high medium PRL on the PRL-secreting pituitary cells. In this culture system dopamine inhibited PRL secretion over a 4 h period in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 20 nM), while no paradoxical stimulation of PRL secretion was observed with low dopamine concentrations. However, a 25% stimulation (P less than 0.05) of PRL secretion by 0.1 nM dopamine could be obtained by addition of 0.01% ascorbic acid, which by itself decreased basal PRL secretion by 49% (P less than 0.01). Thus, tissue culture conditions that result in high PRL production are not necessarily the best choice, since dopamine-mediated inhibition of PRL secretion is another important parameter for the functioning of lactotrophs in culture. The best compromise is MEM with 2.2 g/l of sodium bicarbonate, without Hepes buffer and supplemented with 10% FCS.