TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of prolactin on rat ovarian function
AU - Munabi, Abraham K.
AU - Mericq, Veronica
AU - Koppelman, Michele C.S.
AU - Gelato, Marie C.
AU - Macher, Abe M.
AU - Albertson, Barry D.
AU - Loriaux, D. Lynn
AU - Cassorla., Fernando
N1 - Funding Information:
Abraham K. Munabi, Veronica Mericq, Michele C.S. Koppelman, Marie C. Gelato, Abe M. Macher*, Barry D. Albertson, D. Lynn Loriaux and Fernando Cassorla. Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and *Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20205. Received b-12-84.
PY - 1984/6
Y1 - 1984/6
N2 - Hyperprolactinemia has been associated with several reproductive disorders. To investigate whether hyperprolactinemia directly affects rat ovarian function, we examined the ovarian histopathology and the activities of the four ovarian enzymes 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17-hydroxylase (17-OH), 17,20-desmolase (17,20-D) and aromatase in hyperprolactinemic rats and controls. Hypophysectomized, gonadotropin-treated Fisher rats were made hyperprolactinemic by isografting pituitary glands under the kidney capsule. The control animals received skeletal muscle. The ovaries were resected, pooled according to prolactin levels and microsomal enzyme activities were measured from each pool. Prolactin (PRL) levels were 344 ± 23 ng/ml in the hyperprolactinemic rats and 18 ± 5 ng/ml in the controls (p<0.001). Estradiol concentrations were 609±47 pg/ml in the hyperprolactinemic animals and 56 ± 13 pg/ml in the controls (p<0.001). Ovarian and uterine weights were significantly higher in the hyperprolactinemic rats (p<0.02). Ovarian histopathology demonstrated benign polycystic transformation in the hyperprolactinemic animals. Hyperprolactinemia had no effect on 3β-HSD, but was associated with significant decreases in the 17-OH, 17,20-D and aromatase activities when compared to controls (p<0.001). We conclude that prolactin has a direct effect on rat ovarian function which appears to be independent of changes in gonadotropin secretion.
AB - Hyperprolactinemia has been associated with several reproductive disorders. To investigate whether hyperprolactinemia directly affects rat ovarian function, we examined the ovarian histopathology and the activities of the four ovarian enzymes 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17-hydroxylase (17-OH), 17,20-desmolase (17,20-D) and aromatase in hyperprolactinemic rats and controls. Hypophysectomized, gonadotropin-treated Fisher rats were made hyperprolactinemic by isografting pituitary glands under the kidney capsule. The control animals received skeletal muscle. The ovaries were resected, pooled according to prolactin levels and microsomal enzyme activities were measured from each pool. Prolactin (PRL) levels were 344 ± 23 ng/ml in the hyperprolactinemic rats and 18 ± 5 ng/ml in the controls (p<0.001). Estradiol concentrations were 609±47 pg/ml in the hyperprolactinemic animals and 56 ± 13 pg/ml in the controls (p<0.001). Ovarian and uterine weights were significantly higher in the hyperprolactinemic rats (p<0.02). Ovarian histopathology demonstrated benign polycystic transformation in the hyperprolactinemic animals. Hyperprolactinemia had no effect on 3β-HSD, but was associated with significant decreases in the 17-OH, 17,20-D and aromatase activities when compared to controls (p<0.001). We conclude that prolactin has a direct effect on rat ovarian function which appears to be independent of changes in gonadotropin secretion.
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U2 - 10.1016/0039-128X(84)90025-4
DO - 10.1016/0039-128X(84)90025-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 6335928
AN - SCOPUS:0021734915
SN - 0039-128X
VL - 43
SP - 631
EP - 637
JO - Steroids
JF - Steroids
IS - 6
ER -