Inhibition by antiserum to rat growth hormone-releasing factor of growth hormone secretion induced by a met5-enkephalin analog, FK33-824, in rats

A Met5-enkephalin analog, FK33-824 (5, 10 and 20 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv) caused a dose-related increase in plasma growth hormone (GH) in urethane-anesthetized male rats. Pretreatment with cysteamine (30 mg/100 g body wt, sc), a depletor of hypothalamic somatostatin, increased the plasma GH response to FK33-824 (10 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv). Antiserum specific for rat GH-releasing factor (GRF) (0.5 ml/rat, iv) blunted GH release induced by FK33-824 (10 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv) in rats with or without cysteamine pretreatment. These results suggest that GH secretion induced by the opioid peptide is mediated, at least in part, by hypothalamic GRF in the rat.     

Further evidence that central neurotensin inhibits pituitary prolactin secretion by stimulating dopamine release from the hypothalamus

Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of neurotensin (NT) (2 micrograms/rat) suppressed prolactin (PRL) release induced by L-5-hydroxytryptophan (1 mg/100 g body wt, iv), prostaglandin E2(1 microgram/rat, icv), and FK33-824 (10 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv), a Met5-enkephalin analog, in urethane-anesthetized or conscious rats. In contrast, NT did not suppress elevated plasma PRL levels sustained by a large dose of domperidone (10 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv), a peripheral dopamine antagonist. In in vitro experiments, NT (10(-5) M) stimulated dopamine release from perifused rat hypothalamic fragments. These results suggest that central NT inhibits PRL secretion by stimulating dopamine release from the hypothalamus into hypophysical portal blood in the rat.     

Effect of propiomazine on plasma prolactin in the rat: counteraction by L-dopa

A single iv injection of 0.31, 0.62, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg body wt of a phenothiazine derivative, propiomazine (PP), into male rats significantly (P less than 0.05) increased plasma prolactin concentrations. The higher doses (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body wt) produced increases that were greater in both magnitude and duration than those produced by the lower doses. The higher doses of PP, along with the elevations in plasma prolactin, also produced concomitant decreases in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Pretreatment with L-dopa (100 mg/kg body wt) completely blocked the PP-induced stimulation of prolactin release, indicating that antidopaminergic action of PP either at the hypothalamic or anterior pituitary level was responsible for its effects on the release of prolactin.     

Effect of various catecholamine antagonists on prolactin secretion in conscious male rabbits

To clarify physiological roles of catecholaminergic systems in the control of rabbit prolactin (PRL) release, the effect of various catecholamine receptor antagonists on plasma PRL levels was examined in conscious, freely moving male rabbits. An intravenous (iv) injection of yohimbin (2.5 mg/kg body wt), an alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, but not prazosin (2 mg/kg body wt), an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, resulted in a significant elevation of plasma PRL. Conversely, propranolol (2.5 mg/kg body wt, iv), a nonselective beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist, and metoprolol (2.6 mg/kg body wt, iv), a beta 1-adrenergic antagonist, slightly but significantly suppressed basal levels of plasma PRL. On the other hand, haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg body wt, iv), pimozide (0.3 mg/kg body wt, iv), sulpiride (5 mg/kg body wt, iv), chlorpromazine (3 mg/kg body wt, iv), and YM-09151-2 (0.2 mg/kg body wt, iv), all dopamine receptor antagonists caused a significant increase in plasma PRL. These results suggest that dopaminergic and alpha 2-adrenergic mechanisms exert a tonic inhibitory role and beta-adrenergic mechanisms, probably beta 1, a tonic stimulatory role in the regulation of PRL release in the rabbit.     

Mechanism of prolactin release by 5-hydroxytryptophan

Male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally administered 300 mg/kg b.w. of α-methyl-p-tyrosine methyl ester(α-MT). These α-MT pretreated rats were anesthetized with urethane and then 5% glucose or dopamine (1 μg/kg b.w./min) was infused for 45 min. At 1 min before or 15 min after dopamine infusion, 10 or 50 mg/kg of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) was injected intraperitoneally, and blood samples were taken from the jugular vein for prolactin determination. In rats treated with α-MT, the administration of 5-HTP increases the serum prolactin level in a dose-related manner. Dopamine infusion caused a marked decrease in serum prolactin level. The concomitant administration of dopamine and 5-HTP prevented the dopamine-induced decrease of serum prolactin in α-MT treated rats. These results indicate that the serotonergic stimulus enhanced prolactin release, not by inhibiting the dopaminergic activity, but by stimulating a prolactin-releasing factor or by activating other neurotransmitter systems.     

Central inhibitory action of TRH on prolactin secretion in the rat

Intravenous (iv) injection of FK33-824 [( D-Ala2, MePhe4, Met-(O)5-ol]-enkephalin, 8 and 16 nmole/100 g body wt), a potent Met5-enkephalin analog, and domperidone (1.2, 2.4, and 24 nmole/100 g body wt), a dopamine antagonist, resulted in a dose-related increase in plasma prolactin (PRL) levels in urethane-anesthetized male rats. PRL release induced by FK33-824 (16 nmole/100 g body wt, iv) was inhibited by intraventricular (icv) injection of TRH (0.6 nmole/rat). DN-1417 (gamma-butyrolactone-gamma-carbonyl-histidyl-prolinamide citrate, 0.6 nmole/rat, icv), a TRH analog, also blunted PRL release induced by FK33-824. PRL release induced by a smaller dose of domperidone (1.2 nmole/100 g body wt, iv) was blunted by TRH and DN-1417, whereas both peptides failed to suppress elevated PRL levels induced by larger doses of domperidone. These results suggest that TRH not only stimulates PRL secretion by acting directly at the pituitary, but has an inhibitory action on PRL release through activation of the central dopaminergic mechanism.     

Inhibition of prolactin secretion by gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) in the rat

Synthetic gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) injected intraventricularly (1 microgram/rat), but not intravenously, suppressed rat prolactin (PRL) release induced by a Met-enkephalin analog, FK33-824 (10 micrograms/100 g body wt., iv). GRP also blunted PRL release induced by a dopamine antagonist, domperidone (1 microgram/100 g body wt., iv). In contrast, GRP did not suppress elevated plasma PRL levels sustained by a large dose of domperidone (10 micrograms/100 g body wt., iv). GRP (10(-5) M) had no effect on PRL release from superfused pituitary cells in vitro. These results suggest that GRP inhibits PRL secretion in the rat by acting through the brain to stimulate the dopaminergic mechanism.     

Central effects of DN1417, a novel TRH analog, on plasma glucose and catecholamines in conscious rats

Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of DN1417 (0.3, 3 and 30 nmol/rat), a TRH analog, resulted in a dose-related increase in plasma glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in conscious male rats. The effects of DN1417 were more potent and longer-lasting than those of TRH on a molar basis. Intravenous injection of DN1417 (30 nmol/rat) did not change plasma glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels. Pretreatment with hexamethonium (1.5 mg/100 g body wt, iv, 2 min before) inhibited plasma glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine responses to DN1417 (3 nmol/rat, icv). DN1417 did not change plasma glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in rats after total adrenalectomy. In the animals pretreated with cysteamine (30 mg/100 g body wt, sc, 4 h before), basal plasma glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were raised, and exaggerated responses of plasma glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine to DN1417 (3 nmol/rat, icv) were obtained. These results indicate that DN1417 has a potent and long-lasting effect in the central nervous system in stimulating the secretion of catecholamines through the autonomic nervous system, which is associated with an elevation of plasma glucose and that endogenous hypothalamic somatostatin may inhibit the action of DN1417.     

Effects of progesterone on concentrations of monoamines in hypothalamic areas and plasma prolactin levels in rats.

The role of progesterone to increase prolactin (PRL) secretion on the first estrous day in pubertal rats was compared with its role in adult cyclic rats. The first estrus was induced by the administration of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (5 IU) at 28 days of age. A subcutaneous administration of 2.5 or 7.5 mg of progesterone/100 g body wt significantly increased the concentration of plasma PRL in pubertal rats within 4 hr. The PRL level obtained after progesterone administration was greater than that in similarly treated adult rats. The concentration of dopamine in the arcuate nucleus-median eminence (ARC-ME) in pubertal rats significantly decreased after a lower dosage of progesterone was administered, but no change was found in the preoptic area concentration. In adult estrous rats, the concentration of dopamine in the ARC-ME showed a tendency to decrease after the administration of a larger dose of progesterone (7.5 mg/100 g body wt). No change was observed in the concentrations of indoleamines in the preoptic area and ARC-ME after the administration of progesterone in both pubertal and adult rats. The concentrations of dopamine in the preoptic area and ARC-ME were lower in pubertal rats than in adults. The concentration of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and the ratio of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid to 5-hydroxytryptamine in the ARC-ME were higher in pubertal rats than in adults. These results indicate that progesterone causes a greater increase in tonic PRL secretion in pubertal rats than in adult rats and that a lower hypothalamic dopamine activity and a higher serotonin activity in pubertal rats may account for these differences.     

Possible involvement of endogenous opioid peptides in prolactin secretion induced by alpha 2-adrenergic stimulation in rats

Noradrenergic mechanisms have a stimulatory role in regulating prolactin (PRL) secretion in the rat. We investigated the mechanism by which the alpha 2-adrenergic system stimulates PRL release in urethane-anesthetized male rats. Intracerebroventricular injection of norepinephrine (2 micrograms/rat) or epinephrine (100 ng and 1 microgram/rat) caused an increase in plasma PRL levels. The PRL increase induced by epinephrine was much greater than that by norepinephrine. Intracerebroventricular injection of phentolamine (1 microgram/rat), an alpha-antagonist, blunted the plasma PRL increase induced by epinephrine (100 ng intracerebroventricularly). Plasma PRL levels were increased by intravenous injection of alpha 2-agonists, clonidine (15 micrograms/100 g of body wt), and xylazine (200 micrograms/100 g of body wt). Plasma PRL increase induced by clonidine or xylazine was suppressed by intravenous injection of naloxone (125 micrograms/100 g of body wt), an opiate antagonist. These findings suggest that alpha 2-adrenergic mechanisms stimulate pituitary PRL secretion, at least partly, by activating endogenous opioid peptides in the rat.     

Atrial natriuretic factor is unlikely to be involved in the reduced aldosterone production in the Brattleboro rat

We have previously reported that basal and stimulated aldosterone production in Brattleboro rat (DI) lacking hypothalamic arginine vasopressin is lower than that observed in control Long-Evans rat (LE). In the present study, we investigated the secretion under various experimental conditions, adrenal binding sites, and the aldosterone-inhibiting effect of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). In the conscious resting state, the plasma ANF concentration was similar between LE and DI rats. Pentobarbital anaesthesia (5 mg/100 g body wt.) reduced the plasma ANF concentration equally in both groups, with or without captopril pretreatment. Morphine (10 mg/100 g body wt.) increased ANF secretion dramatically and equally in the two groups of pentobarbital anaesthetized (2 mg/100 g body wt.) rats. In dexamethasone pretreated-pentobarbital anaesthetized rats, a concurrent i.v. ANF infusion (50 ng/min) did not change significantly the corticosterone response to ACTH (1-24) (1 mI.U./100 g body wt.) but steeply depressed ACTH-induced aldosterone production to a similar extent between DI and LE rats. A single class of adrenal ANF receptor sites was found with a similarity in high affinity and maximum binding capacity between the two groups of rats. Taken together, these results suggest that the reduced aldosterone production by Brattleboro rat adrenals is unlikely to be related to the inhibitory effect of ANF.     

Intravenous 6-hydroxydopamine attenuates vasopressin and oxytocin secretion stimulated by hemorrhage and hypotension but not hyperosmolality in rats

The present study sought to determine whether chemical destruction of peripheral catecholaminergic fibers with 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) attenuates vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) secretion stimulated by hemorrhage, hypotension, and hyperosmolality. Rats received 6OHDA (100 mg/kg iv) or vehicle (1 ml/kg iv) on days 1 and 7, and experiments were performed on day 8. Serial hemorrhage (4 samples of 2 ml per 300 g body wt at 10-min intervals) increased plasma VP and OT levels in both groups; however, the increase in plasma VP and OT levels was significantly attenuated in 6OHDA-treated vs. control rats despite a significantly lower mean arterial blood pressure. Similarly, the increase in plasma VP and OT levels in response to hypotension produced by the selective arteriolar vasodilator diazoxide was significantly attenuated in 6OHDA-treated rats. In marked contrast to hemorrhage and hypotension, hyperosmolality produced by an infusion of 1 M NaCl (2 ml/h iv) stimulated increases in plasma VP and OT levels that were not different between 6OHDA-treated and control rats. In a parallel set of experiments, intravenous 6OHDA treatment reduced dopamine--hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the posterior pituitary but had no substantial effect in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. In each experiment, the pressor response to tyramine (250 microg/kg iv) was significantly attenuated in 6OHDA-treated rats, thereby confirming that 6OHDA treatment destroyed sympathetic catecholaminergic fibers. Collectively, these findings suggest that catecholaminergic fibers located outside the blood-brain barrier contribute to VP and OT secretion during hemorrhage and arterial hypotension.     

Enhancement in extracellular serotonin levels by 5-hydroxytryptophan loading after administration of WAY 100635 and fluoxetine

It has been demonstrated that synthesis of serotonin (5-HT) is dependent on the availability of precursor, as well as the activity of 5-HT neurons. In the present series of experiments, we examined the effects of precursor (5-HTP) loading on extracellular hypothalamic 5-HT after administration of fluoxetine alone or in combination with WAY 100635, a selective 5-HT1A antagonist. In the first experiment, fluoxetine alone (10 mg/kg i.p.) caused 5-HT levels to significantly increase to 150% of basal levels. Subsequent administration of 5-HTP at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg i.p. caused 5-HT levels to further increase to a maximum value of 254%, 405%, and 618%, respectively. In the second experiment, either vehicle or WAY 100635 (1 mg/kg/hour s.c.) was infused, then fluoxetine (10 mg/kg i.p.) and 5-HTP (10 mg/kg i.p.) were administered. By itself, WAY 100635 led to a slight but significant increase in hypothalamic 5-HT levels one hour after the start of administration (130% of basal levels). In the WAY 100635-treated group, fluoxetine caused an increase to 240% of basal levels after one hour, which rose to 290% of basal levels after two hours. Subsequent administration of 5-HTP further increased 5-HT levels to 580% of basal levels after one hour. In the vehicle-treated group, fluoxetine caused an increase of 160% of basal levels which was stable over two hours, and subsequent administration of 5-HTP led to a slight increase in 5-HT levels of 220% after one hour. These results suggest that combining blockade of 5-HT1A autoreceptors with 5-HT uptake inhibition results in a synergistic increase in synthesis and release of 5-HT when precursor is administered.     

Effect of intravenous 5-hydroxytryptophan on hypothalamic concentration of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and hydroxyindole acetic acid in the fetal lamb

To investigate the neurochemical mechanism of the response of growth hormone to 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), we administered 5-HTP (20 mg/kg) to 10 ovine fetuses (110 or 130 days old; term gestation 147 days). Ninety minutes after 5-HTP administration, and following increases in plasma growth hormone concentrations, the fetus was delivered by hysterotomy. After local anesthesia of the fetus and sacrifice by cervical spinal cord transection the hypothalamus rapidly dissected, and stored at -80 degrees C for later analysis of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and hydroxyindole acetic acid. Compared to the administration of saline, 5-HTP caused a significant increase in the hypothalamic content of serotonin, and norepinephrine, at both gestational ages. 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid increased significantly only in the older fetuses. These results indicate that serotonin may not be the only neurotransmitter active in the growth hormone response to 5-HTP.     

Stimulation of prolactin secretion by L-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-serine (L-DOPS) via central norepinephrine in the rat

Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-DOPS) (50 and 250 micrograms/rat) raised in a dose-related manner both plasma prolactin (PRL) and CSF norepinephrine (NE) in urethane-anesthetized male rats. Intravenous (iv) injection of larger doses of L-DOPS (5 and 10 mg/100 g BW) slightly but significantly increased plasma PRL and CSF NE. L-DOPS injection (50 micrograms/rat, icv or 5 mg/100 g BW, iv) also raised plasma PRL in conscious rats. There was a good correlation (r = 0.74) between CSF NE and peak plasma PRL in the anesthetized animals. Propranolol (100 micrograms/100 g BW, iv) inhibited plasma PRL responses to L-DOPS (50 micrograms/rat, icv) and NE injection (1 microgram/rat, icv) raised plasma PRL in anesthetized animals. These findings indicate that L-DOPS stimulates PRL secretion via central noradrenergic mechanisms in the rat.     

Effect of histamine and acetylcholine on hypophysial stalk plasma dopamine and peripheral plasma prolactin levels.

To further define the role of dopamine in the regulation of prolactin secretion, we studied the effect on prolactin and hypothalamic dopamine secretion of histamine and acetylcholine (ACh) injected into the lateral ventricle of urethane anesthetized diestrus-1 rats. Histamine (10 μg) caused a 592% increase in plasma prolactin levels and a 26% decrease in stalk plasma dopamine levels. ACh (50 μg) caused a 2090% increase in plasma prolactin levels but no significant change in stalk plasma dopamine concentration.To determine if the 26% fall in stalk plasma dopamine following histamine administration could account for the 6-fold increase in plasma prolactin, we measured the effect on prolactin secretion of a similar decrease in administered dopamine. During an infusion of physiologic levels of dopamine, a 25% decrease in arterial plasma dopamine concentration resulted in only a 2-fold increase in prolactin secretion.The results of these experiments suggest that the effect of histamine on prolactin secretion may be mediated in part by decreased hypothalamic secretion of dopamine but that an additional hypothalamic hormone is probably involved. The stimulatory effect of ACh on prolactin secretion is not mediated by dopamine. These data are consistent with the growing evidence for the participation of multiple hypothalamic factors in the regulation of prolactin secretion.     

Comparison of effects of prolactin and growth hormone on adrenal 5alpha-reductase in hypophysectomized rats.

Adrenal 5alpha-reductase activity was measured in female rats 0, 2, 5, and 6 days after hypophysectomy. Enzyme activity increased progressively exhibing a 35-fold elevation at 6 days. The effects of high (250 mug/100 g of body wt), intermediate (25 mug/100 g of body wt), and low (2.5 mug/100 of body wt) daily doses of bovine prolactin and bovine growth hormone were compared at 2 and 5 days posthypophysectomy. At 2 days, enzyme activity was partially inhibited by the high and intermediate doses of prolactin and not affected by growth hormone. At 5 days all doses of prolactin were inhibitory, whereas enzyme activity was suppressed only by the high dose of growth hormone. With a given dose of hormone, the amount of suppression of enzyme activity is greater at 5 days than at 2 days posthypophysectomy. In 5-day hypophysectomized rats the inhibitory effects of prolactin and growth hormone were additive. It is concluded that: (i) hormonal sensitivity and responsiveness of the adrenal reductase pathway increases with duration of pituitary ablation; (ii) the reductive pathway is more sensitive to the effects of prolactin than growth hormone; and (iii) the effects of growth hormone and prolactin on reductase activity are mediated via different mechanisms, as suggested by the additive effects of individual hormones.     

Contribution of the fluid phase endocytosis to bile flow in cholestasis and choleresis in rats

Using a single iv injection of 1 mg Evans blue dye/100 g body wt in rats, the contribution of the fluid phase endocytosis to bile flow was estimated. In control rats, this pathway contributed 2-4% of the bile flow or 10-20 microliter/hr/100 g body wt. This contribution was not affected by cholestasis induced by taurolithocholic acid or bile duct obstruction or by choleresis induced by dehydrocholic acid. It is concluded that fluid phase endocytosis does not significantly influence bile formation but, rather, may be implicated in the remodeling of liver cell plasma membranes.     

Renal handling of amino acids in 5/6-nephrectomized rats: Stimulation of renal amino acid reabsorption after treatment with triiodothyronine or dexamethasone under amino acid load

Summary In anaesthetized adult female rats, the renal amino acid handling was measured six days after 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6NX). The distinct rise in blood urea nitrogen as well as the significant reduction in urine flow and GFR indicate an impairment of kidney function. In principle, in 5/6NX rats amino acid plasma concentrations were comparable to those of control animals with two intact kidneys, whereas the fractional excretions (FE_AA) of most endogenous amino acids measured were significantly enhanced. After bolus injection of leucine or taurine (each 20 mg/100 g b.wt.) or glutamine (90 mg/ 100 g b.wt.), dissolved in 2m1 normal saline per 100 g b.wt., the FE_AA of both the amino acids administered and the endogenous amino acids increased as a sign of overloaded amino acid reabsorption capacity. This effect was more pronounced in 5/6NX rats than in controls. As early as one hour after amino acid load, plasma concentrations and FE_AA returned to baseline values of 5/6NX rats. A pretreatment with triiodothyronine (20,µg/100 g b.wt.) or dexamethasone (60 µg/100 g b.wt.), both given intraperitoneally once daily for 3 days, stimulated the renal amino acid transport capacity in 5/6NX rats: the increase in FE_AA after amino acid load was significantly lower compared to non-pretreatred animals. This stimulation could be shown for the bolus amino acids and the endogenous amino acids and was more distinct in 5/6NX rats than in controls with two intact kidneys.