Correlations between Presence of Spontaneous Lesions of the Pituitary (Adenohypophysis) and Plasma Prolactin Concentration in Aged Wistar Rats

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 288-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. J. van Nesselrooij ◽  
C. F. Kuper ◽  
M. C. Bosland
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Staining Intensity ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Hypertrophic Cell ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Neoplastic Lesions ◽  
Hematoxylin And Eosin ◽  
Positive Correlations

The predictive value of elevated plasma prolactin concentrations for the presence of spontaneous pituitary lesions was studied in 40 male and 38 female Wistar (Cpb:WU) rats, all 30 months old. The pituitaries were examined light microscopically and stained for prolactin using immunohistochemical methods. Plasma prolactin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Pituitary lesions were classified on the basis of their morphology in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections as foci of hypertrophic or hyperplastic cells and hemorrhagic, pleomorphic, or spongiocytic adenomas; no carcinomas were found. There were significantly ( P = 0.001) more female than male rats with pituitary adenomas (58% females, 33% males) or without any pituitary lesions (21% females, 5% males); however, there were less female (21%) than male rats (63%) with foci of hyperplastic and/or hypertrophic cells but no adenomas in the pituitary ( P = 0.001). Elevation of plasma prolactin concentration above the upper 99th percentile value in age-matched rats without lesions was predictive, but not conclusively, of the presence of pituitary hemorrhagic adenomas in both sexes. It was, however, not predictive of the presence of foci of hypertrophic or hyperplastic cells. Elevation of plasma prolactin concentration above 10 ng/ml in male and 60 ng/ml in female rats was conclusive for the presence of hemorrhagic adenomas. Using multivariate analysis, significant positive correlations ( P < 0.01) were found between plasma prolactin concentration and presence and size of hemorrhagic adenomas and their prolactin staining intensity (correlation coefficients between 0.392 and 0.652). Foci of hyperplastic cells stained positively for prolactin, whereas hypertrophic cell foci and pleomorphic and spongiocytic adenomas did not stain for prolactin. There were no correlations (coefficients of less than ± 0.189) between plasma prolactin concentration and the presence of hypertrophic or hyperplastic cell foci and pleomorphic or spongiocytic adenomas in the pituitary. The morphologic criteria developed to distinguish spontaneous hypertrophic, hyperplastic, and neoplastic lesions of the rat pituitary corresponded well with their prolactin immunoreactivity and/or ability to elevate plasma prolactin concentration. These criteria constitute a biologically meaningful classification system for these rat pituitary lesions.

PROLACTIN STIMULATION TEST WITH PERPHENAZINE: AN EVALUATION OF PLASMA PROLACTIN LEVELS AND PITUITARY SECRETORY ACTIVITY IN THE RAT

1976 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. VAN DER GUGTEN ◽  
P. C. SAHULEKA ◽  
G. H. VAN GALEN ◽  
H. G. KWA
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Secretory Activity ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Prolactin Release ◽  
Oestrogen Treatment ◽  
Endocrine Status ◽  
Pituitary Prolactin ◽  
Single Plasma

SUMMARY Many investigations of the regulation of prolactin synthesis and release are based on single plasma prolactin determinations. The purpose of the present experiment was to ascertain whether groups of rats (i.e. young or adult, male or female animals, being either intact, gonadectomized or gonadectomized and treated with oestrone), differing in age and/or endocrine status, will react to a single dose of perphenazine by an acute release of pituitary prolactin in proportion to their initial plasma prolactin levels. No consistent relation existed between the classification of the twelve groups of rats into three categories of basal plasma prolactin levels (i.e. < 20, 25–50, > 125 ng/ml) and their response to perphenazine. Even though all groups showed a highly significant increase of plasma prolactin levels the magnitude of the maximum prolactin response at 30 min varied greatly within the groups of one category and thus was not related to the initial prolactin levels. The effect of 14 days of oestrone treatment in increasing plasma prolactin levels in gonadectomized animals was greatest in young and adult male rats, less in young females and not significant in adult females. The results obtained after perphenazine treatment in the latter group made it clear that the effect of oestrogen treatment on prolactin release can be completely blocked by increasing synthesis and/or release of the prolactin-release inhibiting factor (PIF). Since perphenazine induces decrease of pituitary prolactin and a concomitant increase of plasma prolactin levels through lowered PIF-action, the positive effect of oestrogens on prolactin release (as observed in gonadectomized male and young female rats) apparently is caused by a different mode of action. The implications of these findings for the regulation of prolactin release, as affected by the endocrine status of the rat, is discussed. Moreover, comparison of prolactin lost from the pituitary and gained in the circulation of the experimental animals, with amounts of prolactin that were observed to disappear from plasma during the experiment, provided suggestive evidence that the capacity to synthesize and/or eliminate prolactin, after a sudden provoked release of the hormone, differed among the groups. The rates of synthesis by the pituitary, of release from the pituitary into the circulation as well as of elimination of the hormone from the circulation (equally involved in determining actual plasma levels) are thought, therefore, to be far more important for the elucidation of prolactin regulation than single plasma prolactin determinations.

INFLUENCE OF STEROID SEX HORMONES ON THE F. S. H.-RELEASE BY RAT HYPOPHYSES IN VITRO

1961 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. van Rees
Keyword(s):  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Intact Female ◽  
Intact Male ◽  
Incubation Experiments ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Pituitary Glands ◽  
Steroid Sex Hormones

ABSTRACT The hypothesis that steroid sex hormones influence pituitary F. S. H. by independent actions on its production and capacity of the gland to release it has been investigated by means of incubation experiments. During incubation, rat pituitary glands released considerable amounts of F. S. H. into the medium. Inactivation of F. S. H. during incubation could not be demonstrated; once (in females) some production of F. S. H. was even observed. The amount of F. S. H. which is released into the medium is influenced by the quantity of F. S. H. stored in the hypophyses. Hypophyses from male rats pretreated with oestradiol released relatively more F. S. H. into the medium than hypophyses from control animals. On the other hand, pretreatment with testosterone caused the pituitary glands to release less F. S. H. into the medium. In agreement with these results, hypophyses from intact male rats released relatively less F. S. H. than hypophyses from intact female rats. These facts support the hypothesis that androgens depress pituitary F. S. H.-secretion by inhibiting the capacity to release it, while oestrogens, which can even promote this property of the pituitary gland, also act by directly inhibiting its production.

Regulation of the TRH-like peptide pyroglutamyl-glutamyl-prolineamide in the rat anterior pituitary gland

1995 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M M Rondeel ◽  
W Klootwijk ◽  
E Linkels ◽  
G A C van Haasteren ◽  
W J de Greef ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pituitary Gland ◽  
Sex Difference ◽  
Anterior Pituitary ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Anion Exchange Chromatography ◽  
Exchange Chromatography ◽  
Anterior Pituitary Gland ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Rat Pituitary

Abstract TRH-like peptides share the N- and C-terminal amino acids with TRH (pGlu-His-Pro-NH2) but differ in the middle amino acid residue. One of them, pGlu-Glu-Pro-NH2 (<EEP-NH2; EEP) is present in the rat pituitary gland, but its biological significance is unknown. We investigated the localization and regulation of this tripeptide in the rat pituitary gland. To distinguish between TRH and EEP two antisera were used for RIA: specificity of antiserum 4319 for the TRH-like peptides pGlu-Phe-Pro-NH2 and EEP was equal to or greater than that for TRH, whereas antiserum 8880 is TRH-specific. Our RIA data showed the presence of a TRH-like peptide in the anterior pituitary gland (AP) and of TRH in the posterior pituitary gland (PP). The TRH-like peptide in the AP was identified on anion-exchange chromatography and subsequent HPLC as EEP. Pathophysiological conditions such as altered thyroid and adrenal status and suckling did not affect pituitary gland levels of EEP. In general, however, there is a clear sex difference: levels of EEP are higher in male than in female rats. In both sexes gonadectomy leads to a substantial two- to threefold rise in EEP levels, abolishing the sex difference. Testosterone administration to gonadectomized male rats normalizes levels of EEP again. Disulfiram, an inhibitor of the enzyme peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase, reduced levels of EEP in the AP by approximately 50%. In conclusion: 1) the TRH-like peptide EEP is present in the AP, whereas TRH is confined to the PP, 2) levels of EEP in the AP are regulated by sex steroids, 3) EEP is actively amidated in the AP and thus seems to be produced from a glycine-extended progenitor sequence. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 145, 43–49

AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC ACIDOPHIL CELLS OF THE RAT PITUITARY

1971 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Schelin ◽  
P. M. Lundin
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Secretory Granules ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Prolactin Cells ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Gh Cells ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Close Relationship

ABSTRACT The morphology of normal and neoplastic acidophil cells of the rat pituitary has been studied by electron microscopy with special reference to the size and shape of the secretory granules. In the female rats, pregnant or non-pregnant, growth hormone (GH) cells and prolactin cells are easily separated, but in the male rats this separation is very uncertain. Acidophil tumours with granules similar to the GH type or to the prolactin type can be induced with stilboestrol treatment. These results indicate a close relationship between the two types of acidophil cells. They may be derived from a common progenitor which can be differentiated into either GH or prolactin cell or they may represent one cell type capable of producing both hormones.

A physiological dose of estradiol with progesterone affects striatum biogenic amines

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 1520-1526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Morissette ◽  
Daniel Lévesque ◽  
Alain Bélanger ◽  
Thérèse Di Paolo
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Injection ◽  
Acute Effect ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Rat Striatum ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Intact Male ◽  
Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ◽  
The Brain

The acute effect of estradiol and progesterone on dopamine and serotonin metabolism in rat striatum was studied. One subcutaneous injection of 17β-estradiol (300 ng) and progesterone (150 μg) into intact male rats increased plasma levels of these steroids, while testosterone, corticosterone, and estrone remained unchanged. Dehydroepiandrosterone, androstane-3β, 17β-diol and dihydrotestosterone remained undetectably low. Prolactin decreased and androstane-3α,17β-diol, and 17-OH progesterone increased, but less than estradiol and progesterone. Peak levels of striatal dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid were observed 15–45 min after steroid injection with a return to control values after 45–60 min, while serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were slightly decreased. An injection of estradiol (70 ng) with progesterone (70μg) to ovariectomized female rats left plasma prolactin levels unchanged, while striatum dopamine and serotonin as well as their metabolite concentrations peaked 15–60 min after steroid injection and returned to control values after 45–75 min. To allow for a better comparison of the action of these steroids, the effect of estradiol or progesterone alone and in combination on the brain of ovariectomized rats was compared in the same experiment. A similar increase in metabolites of dopamine levels was observed after these steroids alone or in combination, while dopamine levels were increased only after progesterone alone or in combination with estradiol. An injection of estradiol or progesterone to ovariectomized rats led to peak steroid concentrations at approximately the same time in the brain and plasma. In addition, plasma and brain steroid levels were significantly correlated. Thus, levels of estradiol and progesterone that occur during the estrous cycle can rapidly increase striatum dopaminergic activity in rats of both sexes, while serotonin activity is increased only in female rats.Key words: estradiol, progesterone, striatum, dopamine, serotonin.

scholarly journals Novel action of pituitary urocortin 2 in the regulation of expression and secretion of gonadotropins

2009 ◽  
Vol 201 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Nemoto ◽  
Naoko Yamauchi ◽  
Tamotsu Shibasaki
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Anterior Pituitary ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Regulation Of Expression ◽  
Peptide Family ◽  
Rabbit Igg ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Interfering Rna

Urocortins 2 (Ucn 2), one of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) peptide family, is thought to be an endogenous ligand for CRF type 2 receptor (CRF-R2). We previously demonstrated that Ucn 2 is expressed in the corticotrophs of rat pituitary, and the mRNA expression and secretion of Ucn 2 in corticotrophs of rat anterior pituitary are regulated by CRF and glucocorticoids. Since CRF-R2 has been reported to be expressed on gonadotrophs of the rat pituitary, we hypothesized that pituitary Ucn 2 may control the expression and secretion of gonadotropins. Monolayer culture of rat anterior pituitary cells showed that the secretion of gonadotropins was suppressed by Ucn 2. A CRF-R2 selective antagonist, adenoviral-mediated expression of short interfering RNA against CRF-R2, and anti-Ucn 2 rabbit IgG increased the secretion and mRNA expression of gonadotropins. intraperitoneal injection of anti-Ucn 2 IgG into immature male rats significantly increased the secretion and mRNA expression of gonadotropins compared with those in normal rabbit IgG-injected rats. Daily i.p. injection of anti-Ucn 2 IgG into immature female rats induced a tendency toward earlier occurrence of menarche compared with normal rabbit IgG-injected rats. These findings suggest that pituitary Ucn 2 is involved in the regulatory mechanism of the expression and secretion of gonadotropins through its tonic and inhibitory action on gonadotrophs in a paracrine manner.

NEUTRALIZATION OF ACTIVITY OF CIRCULATING GONADOTROPHIC HORMONES BY ANTISERUM TO RAT PITUITARY

1963 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. CONTOPOULOS ◽  
T. HAYASHIDA
Keyword(s):  
Serum Proteins ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Rabbit Serum ◽  
Normal Rabbit Serum ◽  
Hormone Activity ◽  
Immature Female ◽  
Rat Pituitary

SUMMARY Antiserum prepared by the immunization of rabbits, with homogenates of rat anterior pituitary gland according to a procedure previously outlined, was absorbed with homologous serum proteins and tissues to remove various non-specific antibodies. Varying levels of plasma from gonadectomized male rats, containing high levels of gonadotrophic hormone activity, were injected into hypophysectomized, immature female rats. The simultaneous injection of antiserum resulted in complete neutralization of gonadotrophic hormone as judged by the inhibition of ovarian and uterine weight responses and the extent of follicular development in the ovaries of the rats used for the bioassay. The degree of inhibition was dependent upon the relative amount of antiserum employed. Normal rabbit serum did not have any inhibitory effect. No detectable non-specific or toxic effects were noted in the animals injected with antiserum.

RESULTS OF RADIOIMMUNOASSAYS OF RAT PITUITARY AND SERUM PROLACTIN AFTER ADRENALECTOMY AND PERPHENAZINE TREATMENT IN RATS

1971 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. BEN-DAVID ◽  
A. DANON ◽  
R. BENVENISTE ◽  
C. P. WELLER ◽  
F. G. SULMAN
Keyword(s):  
Serum Levels ◽  
High Serum ◽  
Target Organ ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Prolactin Content ◽  
Intact Rats

SUMMARY Treatment for 5 days of female rats with perphenazine (5 mg/kg/day) induced full lobulo—alveolar differentiation. Long-standing adrenalectomy (12 days) decreased this mammotrophic effect of perphenazine. The mechanism of this reaction was studied in male rats in order to avoid fluctuations of the prolactin content in the anterior pituitary. Adult male rats were adrenalectomized and injected s.c. after 12 days with perphenazine (10 mg/kg). Two hours later the rats were killed and pituitary and serum prolactin levels assayed by double antibody radioimmunoassay. In intact rats, perphenazine treatment enhanced serum prolactin up to 104 ± 4 (s.e.m.) ng/ml (± 350%). Adrenalectomy alone increased serum prolactin from 30± 5 to 47 ± 6 ng/ml (+56%), and augmented the perphenazine-induced release of prolactin from the pituitary into the blood from 104 ± 4 to 147 ± 10 ng/ml (+ 42%). In chronically adrenalectomized adult female rats extremely high amounts of prolactin (+ 1617%) were detected in the serum at the end of 5 days' treatment with perphenazine (5 mg/kg/day). These results indicate that removal of the adrenals in male and female rats does not interfere with the ability of the pituitary to secrete prolactin. Moreover, they also show that in adrenalectomized rats the impaired mammotrophic effect of perphenazine is not due to prolactin deficiency (since high serum levels of this hormone were present) but to the absence of corticosteroids at the target organ.

ADENOHYPOPHYSEAL LH CONTENT IN NORMAL, ANDROGEN-STERILIZED AND PROGESTERONE-PRIMED STERILE FEMALE RATS

1962 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. Gorski ◽  
Charles A. Barraclough
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Quantitative Determination ◽  
Median Eminence ◽  
Hypothalamic Stimulation ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Gland Content ◽  
Stimulation Of

ABSTRACT We have previously suggested that the failure of the androgen-sterilized, persistent-oestrous rat to ovulate, following electrical stimulation of the median eminence structures of the hypothalamus, is due to an insufficiency in adenohypophyseal LH concentration. Using the ovarian ascorbic acid technique for quantitative determination of pituitary LH content, the present studies have demonstrated that the sterile rat pituitary gland contains one-third the LH content of the normal prooestrous gland. Furthermore, not only does progesterone priming of this persistent-oestrous rat result in a 75 % increase in LH concentration, but on hypothalamic stimulation sufficient LH is released to induce ovulation. The decrease in LH concentration which accompanies ovulation in the progesterone-primed, sterile rat is approximately 45 % of the total gland content as compared with a 51 % decrease in pituitary content in the normal cyclic rat.

INDUCTION OF GOITRE BY PTU OR KClO4 IN MALE AND FEMALE RATS. EFFECT OF GONADECTOMY

1973 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Jolín ◽  
M. J. Tarin ◽  
M. D. Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Iodine Content ◽  
High Plasma ◽  
Disc Electrophoresis ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Tsh Levels

ABSTRACT Male and female rats of varying ages were placad on a low iodine diet (LID) plus KClO4 or 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) or on the same diet supplemented with I (control rats). Goitrogenesis was also induced with LID plus PTU in gonadectomized animals of both sexes. The weight of the control and goitrogen treated animals, and the weight and iodine content of their thyroids were determined, as well as the plasma PBI, TSH, insulin and glucose levels. The pituitary GH-like protein content was assessed by disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. If goitrogenesis was induced in young rats of both sexes starting with rats of the same age, body weight (B.W.) and pituitary growth hormone (GH) content, it was found that both the males and females developed goitres of the same size. On the contrary, when goitrogenesis was induced in adult animals, it was found that male rats, that had larger B.W. and pituitary GH content than age-paired females, developed larger goitres. However, both male and female rats were in a hypothyroid condition of comparable degree as judged by the thyroidal iodine content and the plasma PBI and TSH levels. When all the data on the PTU or KClO4-treated male and female rats of varying age and B.W. were considered together, it was observed that the weights of the thyroids increased proportionally to B.W. However, a difference in the slope of the regression of the thyroid weight over B.W. was found between male and female rats, due to the fact that adult male rats develop larger goitres than female animals. In addition, in the male rats treated with PTU, gonadectomy decreased the B.W., pituitary content of GH-like protein and, concomitantly, the size of the goitre decreased; an opposite effect was induced by ovariectomy on the female animals. However, when goitrogenesis was induced in weight-paired adult rats of both sexes, the male animals still developed larger goitres than the females. Among all the parameters studied here, the only ones which appeared to bear a consistent relationship with the size of the goitres in rats of different sexes, treated with a given goitrogen, were the rate of body growth and the amount of a pituitary GH-like protein found before the onset of the goitrogen treatment. Moreover, though the pituitary content of the GH-like protein decreased as a consequence of goitrogen treatment, it was still somewhat higher in male that in female animals. The present results suggest that GH may somehow be involved in the mechanism by which male and female rats on goitrogens develop goitres of different sizes, despite equally high plasma TSH levels.

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