Serum half-life and in-vivo actions of recombinant bovine placental lactogen in the dairy cow

New horizons in specific hormone proteolysis

Proteolysis of protein hormones is primarily acknowledged in the context of breakdown and metabolic clearance by hepatorenal elimination. However, less explored is the specific proteolytic processing of large protein hormones, for which canonical signaling pathways were already established [e.g., prolactin (PRL)], to generate unique messengers that impact cellular functions via pathways unrelated to the receptors of their precursor molecules. Yet, the proteolysis of PRL to generate new messengers evolved under positive selection, and cleaved protein hormones regulate essential functions to maintain homeostasis at the organismal, tissue, or organ levels. The cleavage sites at which proteolysis occurs and the proteases with their determinants define a hormone-metabolism junction at which specific proteolytic cleavage, pathological alteration, and hepatorenal elimination occur.

TRIENNIAL LACTATION SYMPOSIUM/BOLFA:Historical perspectives of lactation biology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries

The latter half of the 20th century and the early portion of the 21st century will be recognized as the "Golden Age" of lactation biology. This period corresponded with the rise of systemic, metabolomic, molecular, and genomic biology. It includes the discovery of the structure of DNA and ends with the sequencing of the complete genomes of humans and all major domestic animal species including the dairy cow. This included the ability to identify polymorphisms in the nucleic acid sequence, which can be tied to specific differences in cellular, tissue, and animal performance. Before this period, classical work using endocrine ablation and replacement studies identified the mammary gland as an endocrine-dependent organ. In the early 1960s, the development of RIA and radioreceptor assays permitted the study of the relationship between endocrine patterns and mammary function. The ability to measure nucleic acid content of tissues opened the door to study of the factors regulating mammary growth. The development of high-speed centrifugation in the 1960s allowed separation of specific cell organelles and their membranes. The development of transmission and scanning electron microscopy permitted the study of the relationship between structure and function in the mammary secretory cell. The availability of radiolabeled metabolites provided the opportunity to investigate the metabolic pathways and their regulation. The development of concepts regarding the coordination of metabolism to support lactation integrated our understanding of nutrient partitioning and homeostasis. The ability to produce recombinant molecules and organisms permitted enhancement of lactation in farm animal species and the production of milk containing proteins of value to human medicine. These discoveries and others contributed to vastly increased dairy farm productivity in the United States and worldwide. This review will include the discussion of the centers of excellence and scientists who labored in these fields to produce the harvest of knowledge we enjoy today.

Effects of cadmium on the expression of placental lactogens and Pit-1 genes in the rat placental trophoblast cells

Cadmium is an endocrine disrupter (ED) with detrimental effects on mammalian reproduction. The placenta is a primary target for cadmium toxicity during pregnancy. Very little of this metal crosses the placenta to the fetus, and consequently it accumulates in high concentrations in the placenta. Cadmium affects on steroid synthesis and has estrogen- and androgen-like activities. In this study, we investigated the toxic effects of cadmium on placental trophoblast cells as well as the mRNA levels of placental lactogens (PLs), which are under the control of estrogen and play a pivotal role during pregnancy. Pregnant F344 Fisher rats were injected subcutaneously with 0, 0.2, and 2.0mg/kg BW/day of cadmium (CdCl(2)) dissolved in saline from days 11 to 19 of pregnancy and were sacrificed on day 20. The mRNA levels of the PL-Iv and -II genes and Pit-1alpha and beta isotype genes, the trans-acting factor of PLs, were analyzed by Northern blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The frequency of the placental trophoblast cells was observed histochemically. Developmental data and apoptotic chromosomal DNA fragmentation of placental cells were also observed. The mRNA levels of PL-Iv and -II were reduced in a dose-dependent manner by cadmium. The mRNA levels of the Pit-1alpha and beta isotype genes were also reduced by cadmium. In the uterus-conjugated region of the placental junctional zone, the frequency rates of trophoblast cells were lower in the cadmium-treated groups than in the control group. High-dose cadmium exposure (2.0mg) induced not only the reduction of trophoblast cell frequency but also apoptotic chromosomal DNA fragmentation in the junctional zone of the placenta. Developmental metrics such as placental and fetal weights and a number of live fetuses, decreased, while a numbers of resorptions, dead fetuses, and post-implantation losses increased significantly (p<0.05) in the cadmium-treated groups compared to the control. These data suggested that cadmium inhibits the expression of PL genes and reduces the number of trophoblast cells in the rat placenta via an estrogen-like activity, leading to significant toxic effects on placental growth and physiological function in rats.

Radioimmunoassay of bovine placental lactogen using recombinant and native preparations: determination of fetal concentrations across gestation

Concentrations of bovine placental lactogen (bPL) were determined in fetal plasma samples by twelve double-antibody competitive radioimmunoassay systems (RIA I-XII) based on either recombinant bPL (non-glycosylated) or native bPL (glycosylated). Both preparations were used as standard and tracer, and for primary antisera production. The minimum detection limit measured by these RIA varied from 0.02 to 0.6 ng bPL mL(-1). The coefficients of correlation of different bPL RIA systems were up to 90% (P < 0.0001) when each RIA was tested against the average values of all twelve RIA systems. All developed RIA were used to investigate the incidence of different bPL isoforms in bovine fetal serum samples (n = 71). Fetal concentrations ranged from 11.8 to 35.7 ng mL(-1) at the third month and from 1.1 to 13.5 ng mL(-1) at the ninth month of gestation. They tended to decrease with advancing gestation. In general, those RIA systems that used recombinant bPL as the standard measured higher values than those using the native bPL preparation. These differences decreased toward the end of gestation (P < 0.05), suggesting a lower rate of glycosylation. Our results provide evidence of different glycosylated isoforms of bPL in fetal serum at different gestation periods.

Expression profile and protein levels of placental products as indirect measures of placental function in in vitro-derived bovine pregnancies

Bovine conceptus development and its association with placental proteins present in maternal, foetal and neonatal plasma and foetal (amniotic and allantoic) fluids were investigated inin vivo- andin vitro-produced (IVP) concepti and newborn calves. Females were superovulated to obtain control embryos, whereas IVP embryos were derived from establishedin vitroprocedures. Pregnant animals were slaughtered on days 90 or 180 of gestation or allowed to develop to term for the assessment of physical traits. Foetal, maternal and neonatal blood and foetal fluids were collected for the determination of bovine placental lactogen (bPL) and bovine pregnancy-specific protein B (bPSPB) concentrations. Placental transcripts for bPL and bPSPB, determined by quantitative RT-PCR, were elevated in IVP placentomes. No major physical differences were observed between groups on day 90, but concentrations of bPL and bPSPB were higher in foetal plasma and allantoic fluid of IVP concepti in day 180 pregnancies, which were correlated with larger uterine and conceptus traits. Maternal concentrations of bPL in IVP pregnancies were lower than controls during the last 8 weeks of gestation, to become similar as parturition approached. Newborn IVP calves and foetal membranes were larger and displayed higher concentrations of plasma bPL than controls (10 and 60 min after birth). Our results indicated that differential patterns of secretion of bPL and bPSPB into the maternal and foetal systems occurred at distinct stages of gestation, and these were associated with altered conceptus development afterin vitroembryo manipulations, indirectly demonstrating deviations in placental function in IVP pregnancies.

Altered Placental Lactogen and Leptin Expression in Placentomes from Bovine Nuclear Transfer Pregnancies1

Appropriate growth, development, and function of the placenta is central to the success of nutrient partitioning between the mother, placenta, and fetus. Hormones such as placental lactogen (PL) and leptin are produced in the bovine placenta and play an important role in nutrient partitioning and regulation of placental and fetal growth. Nuclear transfer pregnancies are associated with a number of fetal and placental abnormalities, including increased placental growth and macrosomia, and hence represent a unique situation to gain insight into fetoplacental growth regulation. We have examined the expression of bovine PL (bPL) and leptin in placentomes of artificially inseminated (AI), in vitro produced (IVP), and nuclear transfer (NT) pregnancies at Days 50, 100, and 150 of gestation in the cow. Immunolocalization studies showed that spatial and temporal patterns of expression of bPL and leptin were markedly altered in the placentomes of NT pregnancies compared with AI or IVP controls. Concentrations of bPL in allantoic fluid, as determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), were significantly higher (P < or = 0.001) in NT pregnancies (17.9 +/- 3.2 ng/ml; mean +/- SD) compared with AI (2.03 +/- 1.5 ng/ml), but not IVP (23.4 +/- 12.8 ng/ ml) pregnancies on Day 150 of gestation. In contrast, amniotic fluid levels of bPL were significantly decreased in NT pregnancies at Day 150 gestation. Leptin mRNA expression, as determined by real-time reverse transcription-PCR, was increased 2.4- to 3.0-fold in NT placentomes compared with AI controls at all gestational ages examined. We speculate that the observed dysregulation of expression of bPL and leptin in NT placentomes could contribute to aberrations in cell migration and invasion and subsequently to alterations in placental metabolism and transfer of nutrients to the fetus, thus leading to increased placental and fetal macrosomia in NT pregnancies.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I and Binding Proteins 1, 2, and 3 in Bovine Nuclear Transfer Pregnancies1

In cloned pregnancies, placental deficiencies, including increased placentome size, reduced placentome number, and increased accumulation of allantoic fluid, have been associated with low cloning efficiency. To assess differences in paracrine and endocrine growth regulation in cloned versus normal bovine placentomes and pregnancies, we have examined the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and -II and their binding proteins (IGFBP)-1 through -3 in placentomes of artificially inseminated (AI), in vitro-produced (IVP), and nuclear transfer (NT) pregnancies at Days 50, 100, and 150 of gestation. Fetal, maternal, and binucleate cell counts in representative placentomes were performed on Days 50-150 of gestation in all three groups. Increased numbers of fetal, maternal, and binucleate cells were present in NT placentomes at all stages of gestation examined. Immunolocalization studies showed that spatial and temporal patterns of expression of IGFBP-2 and -3 were markedly altered in the placentomes of NT pregnancies compared to AI/IVP controls. Concentrations of IGF-I in fetal plasma, as determined by RIA, were significantly higher (P = 0.001) in NT pregnancies (mean +/- SEM, 30.3 +/- 2.3 ng/ml) compared with AI (19.1 +/- 5.5 ng/ml) or IVP (24.2 +/- 2.5 ng/ml) pregnancies on Day 150 of gestation. Allantoic fluid levels of IGFBP-1 were also increased in NT pregnancies. These findings suggest that endocrine and paracrine perturbations of the IGF axis may modulate placental dysfunction in NT pregnancies. Furthermore, increased cell numbers in NT placentomes likely have significant implications for fetomaternal communication and may contribute to the placental overgrowth observed in the NT placentomes.

Hormones, mammary growth, and lactation: a 41-year perspective

When I was a beginning graduate student 41 yr ago it had been established that estrogen caused mammary duct growth; a combination of estrogen and progesterone was required for lobule-alveolar development of the mammary glands; and prolactin and growth hormone were essential for mammary growth. In laboratory species exogenous prolactin, glucocorticoids, and estrogen would initiate secretion of milk provided the mammary glands had a well-developed lobule-alveolar system. It was not known with certainty that progesterone inhibited the process. For some species, prolactin and thyroxine had been shown to stimulate lactation, while glucocorticoids suppressed lactation. Definitive roles for growth hormone and insulin during lactation had not been established. Studies of hormonal control of mammary growth and function in cattle were few. In vitro methods to study hormonal regulation of the mammary glands were in their infancy. Quantitative measures of changes in mammary cell numbers and specific components of milk in response to hormones were rare. The concepts for quantification of hormone concentrations, hormone receptors, growth factors, and binding proteins in blood; hormonal regulation of nutrient partitioning; and hormonally induced mechanisms of action within mammary cells were waiting to be discovered. And eventually they were. However, lest we become too enamored with our current understanding of the hormones that control mammary growth and lactation, it remains a fact that the greatest physiological stimulus for milk yield is pregnancy, not some cocktail of exogenous hormones, growth factors, receptor agonists/antagonists, or gene therapies. Viva la mom!

Functional heterodimerization of prolactin and growth hormone receptors by ovine placental lactogen

Although homo- or heterodimerization are common mechanisms for activation of cytokine receptors, cross-talk between two distinct receptors in this superfamily has been never shown. Here we show a physiologically relevant example indicating that such an interaction does occurs, thus raising the hypothesis that heterodimerization between distinct cytokine receptors may be a novel mechanism contributing to the diversity of cytokine signaling. These findings were documented using both surface plasmon resonance and gel filtration experiments and show that ovine placental lactogen (PL) heterodimerizes the extracellular domains (ECDs) of ruminant growth hormone receptor (GHR) and prolactin receptor (PRLR). We also show that PL or PL analogues that exhibit little or no activity in cells transfected with PRLRs and no activity in cells transfected with ovine GHRs exhibit largely enhanced activity in cells cotransfected with both PRLRs and GHRs. Furthermore, chimeric receptors consisting of cytosolic and transmembrane part of ovine GHR or ovine PRLR and ECDs of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSFR) alpha or beta were constructed. Upon transfection into Chinese hamster ovary cells along with reporter luciferase gene and stimulation by GM-CSF, a significant increase in luciferase activity occurred when GM-CSFR-alpha-PRLR and GM-CSFR-beta-GHR or GM-CSFR-alpha-GHR and GM-CSRR-beta-PRLR were cotransfected. In conclusion, we show that ovine PL is capable of functional heterodimerization of GHR and PRLR and that when their cytosolic parts, coupled to the ECD of GM-CSF receptors, are heterodimerized by GM-CSF, they are capable of transducing biological signal.

Evaluation of the somatogenic activity of bovine placental lactogen with cell lines transfected with the bovine somatotropin receptor

Studies have shown that bovine placental lactogen (bPL) has partial somatogenic activity in vivo even though binding results clearly indicate bPL does not cause homodimerization of the bovine somatotropin receptor (bST-R). To help understand the receptor binding versus biological activity of bovine somatotropin (bST) and bPL we have developed a homologous model system. Full length bST-R was stably transfected into a murine lymphoid cell line, Ba/F3 and a hamster kidney cell line, BHK. From both transfected cell lines, clones were isolated (Ba/F3-C1 and BHK-24) which demonstrated specific binding of bST and, or bPL. Bovine ST stimulated proliferation of the Ba/F3-C1 clonal line over a dose range of 10 to 3000 pM with an EC50 of 100 pM. A bST variant (des 1-4 bST) and porcine ST (pST) which both have approximately 10% of the binding affinity for bST-R as native bST were 1 and 10% as potent as bST in this bioassay, respectively. This suggests that affinity and biological activity are correlated for this system. Proliferation was initiated through the bST-R because addition of a monoclonal antibody which recognizes the extracellular domain of bST-R and inhibits binding of bST to its receptor, inhibited bST-stimulated mitosis. However, even though the affinity of bPL for the bST-R is similar to that of bST, bPL antagonized the proliferative action of bST with an IC50 of 1 nM. Components of the somatogenic signal transduction pathway were also evaluated in both cell lines. Addition of bST to the cell cultures increased phosphorylation of JAK2 in Ba/F3-C1 and BHK-24 cells in a dose-responsive manner but bPL failed to increase phosphorylation of JAK2 in either cell line. In summary, these data support the hypothesis that ST-R homodimerization is necessary for bioactivity in this model system but fail to explain apparent somatogenic activity of bPL in vivo.

Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factors and placental lactogen during gestation in cattle. II. Maternal profiles

This study was designed to examine the effects of fetal growth potential on maternal hormones and lipid metabolism. Sixty beef heifers were inseminated with semen from sires with high (H) or low (L) expected progeny differences for birth weight. Maternal serum was collected at 21-d intervals from Day 85 to Day 274 of gestation. Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, placental lactogen (PL), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were determined and correlated to fetal and maternal characteristics. Maternal serum IGF-I declined throughout pregnancy, whereas IGF-II was relatively constant and PL tended to increase. Maternal serum NEFA was low and invariant through Day 211 of gestation when it rose 3.5 times to peak levels at Day 253 and declined at Day 274. PL was positively correlated to NEFA (r = 0.37, P < 0.01), IGF-I was negatively correlated (P < 0.01) to NEFA and PL (r = -0.59, and -0.35, respectively), and IGF-II was negatively correlated to NEFA (r = -0.35, P < 0.01). Dams pregnant with H fetuses had lower (P = 0.02) serum IGF-I and tended to have higher (P = 0.09) serum PL concentrations than dams carrying L fetuses. Additionally, dams pregnant with L fetuses had higher (P < 0.03) serum IGF-II concentrations than dams with H fetuses (175.6 vs. 145.0 ng/ml) during the third trimester. Fetal sex had no effect on any maternal serum parameter. Fetal weight and instantaneous growth rate (IGR) were positively correlated to maternal NEFA and PL and negatively correlated to maternal IGF-I and IGF-II. Independent IGR effects were detected for PL (P < 0.06) and IGF-I (P < 0.0005) concentrations. Maternal hip height was negatively related to serum IGF-I and positively related to serum PL concentrations. Maternal body weight and body condition score were correlated with several serum parameters but were confounded by day of gestation. Correlation analysis of serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-II, and PL did not support the hypothesis that PL regulates IGF concentrations.

Differential expression of the growth hormone receptor and its transcript in bovine uterus and placenta

By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the transcript of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) was proved in bovine placentae of different gestational stages. Using non-radioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) the mRNA encoding GHR was localized in the uterine epithelium, glands, vessels and amniochorion of the placenta from the sixth week until the ninth month of gestation. Production of mRNA was low during the first trimester, significantly increased in the second trimester and peaked at the end of the sixth month of pregnancy. No transcript of GHR was found in the endometrium of non-pregnant uteri. The colocalization of the protein using a monoclonal antibody showed the same distribution pattern as the mRNA. Immunoblotting revealed a protein with a molecular weight of 120 kDa in the endometrium of pregnant cows which was not found in non-pregnant uteri. Our results imply that growth hormone is involved in placental metabolism and embryonic development from the early beginning of pregnancy until birth.

Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factors and placental lactogen during gestation in cattle. I. Fetal profiles

Sixty crossbred beef heifers pregnant with fetuses of either high (H; n = 30) or low (L; n = 30) genetic potential for growth were used to establish fetal serum profiles of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, and placental lactogen (PL), and to examine relationships between serum hormone concentrations and fetal growth parameters. Three H and three L fetuses were collected by caesarean section at 21-d intervals from Day 85 through Day 274 of gestation. Arterial, venous, and mixed umbilical blood samples were collected during surgery. Fetal body weight, crown-rump length, hip height, and heart girth were measured. Serum concentrations of IGF-I and IGF-II increased (P < 0.0001) with advancing gestational age, whereas serum PL declined (P < 0.0001) linearly (P < 0.01) throughout gestation. Serum concentrations were greater in the umbilical vein compared with the umbilical artery for IGF-II (P < 0.0001) and PL (P < 0.05), but not IGF-I. Fetal IGF-I, IGF-II, and PL serum concentrations were not correlated with serum concentrations of the respective maternal hormones. Fetal serum IGF-I concentrations were correlated to fetal body weight (r = 0.66), growth rate (r = 0.72), crown-rump length (r = 0.20), hip height (r = 0.17), and heart girth (r = 0.20). Correlations between fetal serum IGF-II concentrations and the same parameters were 0.60, 0.62, 0.39, 0.34, and 0.37, respectively. Fetal serum PL concentrations were negatively correlated to body weight (r = -0.40) and growth rate (r = -0.40) and not correlated with any fetal linear measure. Fetal genotype (L vs. H) differences were detected for IGF-I (P < 0.05) and PL (P = 0.09) concentrations. Fetal sex effects were not observed for any hormone. Maternal sire breed, hip height, and body condition score did not influence fetal serum hormone concentrations.

Comparative effects of recombinant ovine placental lactogen and bovine growth hormone on galactopoiesis in ewes

The effects of recombinant ovine placental lactogen and bovine growth hormone on milk yield, milk composition, and concentrations of blood hormones and metabolites were compared in ewes during an established lactation. Beginning on d 17 of lactation, ewes were treated for 5 d with twice daily subcutaneous injections of ovine placental lactogen (n = 9), bovine growth hormone (n = 10) at a dose of 0.10 mg/d per kg of body weight, or saline (n = 10). Circulating concentrations of ovine placental lactogen were 24.6 +/- 1.6 ng/ml on d 5 for ewes treated with ovine placental lactogen, but concentrations of ovine placental lactogen were undetectable in ewes treated with either saline or bovine growth hormone. Treatment with bovine growth hormone increased circulating concentrations of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, and nonesterified fatty acids and decreased urea concentrations relative to those in ewes treated with ovine placental lactogen or saline. Compared with saline treatment, no parameters were affected by treatment with ovine placental lactogen. Treatment with bovine growth hormone or ovine placental lactogen treatment had no significant effects on plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose, or creatinine. Treatment with bovine growth hormone, but not ovine placental lactogen, increased yields of milk, fat, and lactose. Weight of the mammary gland was increased by bovine growth hormone, but not by ovine placental lactogen. Despite the fact that ovine placental lactogen is a potent somatogen, it does not appear to exhibit the same galactopoietic activity as bovine growth hormone in lactating ewes.

The effect of recombinant bovine placental lactogen on induced lactation in dairy heifers

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether bovine placental lactogen stimulated additional mammary growth as assessed by milk yield from a lactation induced by steroids. Pubertal, nonpregnant Holstein heifers (n = 23) were given daily subcutaneous injections of estradiol-17 beta (0.05 mg/kg) and progesterone (0.25 mg/kg) for 7 d to initiate mammary growth. Prolactin secretion was suppressed in all heifers via bromocriptine, which was administered until d 15. Heifers were treated with either placental lactogen (40 mg/d; n = 12) or water (control group; n = 11) for 18 d. Lactation was induced by daily injection of dexamethasone for 3 d and twice daily injections of recombinant bovine prolactin for 5 d starting on d 18. From 3 to 8 wk of lactation, milk yield of heifers treated with placental lactogen was numerically higher (22%) than the yield of control heifers, but the difference was not significant because of the high coefficient of variation. Daily injection of bovine somatotropin (d 57 to 66 of lactation) increased milk yield of both groups and stimulated a greater numerical increase in milk yield for heifers that were treated with placental lactogen. These results support the hypothesis that bovine placental lactogen is mammogenic and is one of the factors that regulates mammary growth during pregnancy.

Bovine placental prolactin-related hormones

The bovine placenta, like that of rodents and primates, synthesizes members of the PRL/GH gene family, which may assist the pituitary hormones or perform unique functions during pregnancy. Bovine placental lactogen (bPL) potentially may act through.three receptors: as an agonist or partial antagonist at the PRL and GH receptors, and via an apparently specific receptor in the endometrium. A large distinct subfamily of diverse primary structure, including bovine PRL-related protein I (bPRP-I), evidently does not act via these receptors. Advances in our understanding of hormone-receptor interactions for this gene family have provided new tools to study the role of these hormones in the successful pregnancy.

Molecular cloning of the bovine prolactin receptor and distribution of prolactin and growth hormone receptor transcripts in fetal and utero-placental tissues

We have isolated a bovine prolactin (bPRL) receptor cDNA from an endometrial cDNA library, which predicts a 557 amino acid transmembrane protein similar to the long forms of other characterized prolactin receptors. The predicted cytoplasmic domain is slightly truncated primarily by a stop codon located 36 codons 5' from the stop utilized in the human hepatic transcript. When expressed in COS cells, this cDNA was shown to encode a protein which bound bovine placental lactogen (bPL) and bPRL with nearly equal affinity (KD for bPL, 2.03 x 10(-10) M; bPRL, 3.07 x 10(-10) M). Northern analysis demonstrated multiple transcripts, with maternal liver, corpus luteum, intestine, endometrium and fetal liver containing a major transcript of about 3.8 kb, and maternal corpus luteum and endometrium, a second sized transcript of apparently equal abundance of 4.4 kb. This difference did not appear to be within the coding region. Primer extension analysis of maternal hepatic and endometrial transcripts revealed considerable heterogeneity. Examination of the distribution of prolactin and growth hormone receptor transcripts at mid-pregnancy by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed that both are widespread in bovine fetal and placental tissues. This isolation of bovine prolactin receptor cDNA, and description of receptor distribution will facilitate study of the action of the placental and pituitary members of this gene family during pregnancy.

Stimulation of milk yield and feed intake by bovine placental lactogen in the dairy cow

A 6 x 6 Latin square design was used to test the effects of recombinant bovine placental lactogen on milk yield, milk composition, feed intake, and blood hormone and metabolite levels in nonpregnant lactating cows. The six treatments (5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/d of placental lactogen, water as negative control, and 20 mg/d of bST as positive control) were administered by subcutaneous injection twice daily for 9 d. Blood samples were taken during the last 5 d of the treatment period. The three highest doses of placental lactogen increased milk yield, and there was a linear dose effect, although placental lactogen was less potent than bST. Milk concentrations of lactose, protein, and fat were not altered by any of the treatments. Dry matter intake was increased by two of the doses of placental lactogen, but not by bST. Blood urea N concentration was decreased in a dose-dependent manner by placental lactogen and was also decreased by bST. Similarly, serum insulin-like growth factor-I was increased in a dose-dependent manner by placental lactogen and was also increased by bST. Plasma concentrations of NEFA and glucose were increased by bST, but placental lactogen had little or no effect on either of these parameters. Thus, placental lactogen appears to act, in part, as a weak somatotropin agonist; however, it also appears to have specific activities, e.g., stimulating feed intake.