Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of age and sex on basal and dopamine-inhibited in vitro prolactin release, and dopamine receptor binding, by the rat adenohypophysis

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We measured basal and dopamine-inhibited pituitary cell prolactin (PRL) release in vitro, and dopamine receptor binding in pituitary homogenates, from intact male and female Wistar rats of varying ages. During 48–72 hours in culture, the baseline secretion rate of PRL from pituitary cells of old (24 months) male rats was less than one-half that from cells of mature (6 months) male rats, whereas the corresponding basal secretion rate of PRL from cells of old female rats was nearly 3-fold greater than that from cells of mature female rats (p<0.001). After in vitro exposure to various concentrations of dopamine (10−10M to 10−6M), PRL secretion decreased from pituitary cells of both mature and old rats (p<0.001). However, repeated measures analysis of variance revealed an age-related, dose-dependent decrease in the magnitude of dopamine-inhibited PRL release from cells of both male and female rats (p<0.001). Dopamine receptor number did not differ with age (3–25 months), but was 2 to 3-fold greater in female than in male rats (p<0.01). Receptor affinity was decreased with age only in female rats, and was greater in female than in male rats (p<0.05). These data suggest that the decrease in dopamine-inhibited PRL release from pituitary cells of old male and female rats is not due to altered pituitary dopamine receptor binding, despite certain sex differences. (Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 5: 349-356, 1993)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Roth G.S.: Mechanisms of altered hormone and neurotransmitter action during aging: the role of impaired calcium mobilization. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 521: 170–176, 1988.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Roth G.S., Hess G.D.: Changes in the mechanisms of hormone and neurotransmitter action during aging: current status of the role of receptor and post-receptor alterations. Mech. Ageing Deu. 20: 175–194, 1982.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Haji M., Roth G.S., Blackman MR.: Excess in vitro prolactin secretion by pituitary cells from ovariectomized old rats. Am. J. Physiol. 247: E483–E488, 1984.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Meites J., Huang H.H., Simpkins J.W.: Recent studies on neuroendocrine control of reproductive senescence in rats. In: Schneider E.L. (Ed.), The Aging Reproductive System. Raven Press, New York, Vol. 4, 1978, pp. 213–235.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Riegle G.D., Miller A.E.: Aging effects on the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-gonadal control system in the rat. In: Schneider E.L. (Ed.), The Aging Reproductive System. Raven Press, New York, Vol. 4, 1978, pp. 159–192.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tang L.K., Tang F.Y.: LH responses to LHRH, DB-cAMP and 17ß-estradiol in cultures derived from aged rats, Am. J. Physiol. 240: E510–E518, 1981.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Blackman M.R., Briefel G.R., Tsitouras P.D., et al: Excess in vitro secretion of the free α-subunit of the glycoprotein hormones by pituitary cells from chronically uremic rats. Endocrinology 110: 1964–1971, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bruni J.F., Huang H.H., Marshall S., et al.: Effects of single and multiple injections of synthetic GnRH on serum LH, FSH and testosterone in young and old male rats. Biol. Reprod. 17: 309–313, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Miller A.E., Riegle G.D.: Temporal patterns of serum luteinizing hormone and testosterone and endocrine response to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in aging male rats. J. Gerontol. 37: 522–528, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mortimer R.H., Fleischer N., Lev-Gur M., et al.: Correlation of integrated LH and FSH levels and the responses to luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (LRF). J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 43: 1240–1249, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Shaar C.J., Euker J.S., Riegle G.D., et al.: Effects of castration and gonadal steroids on serum luteinizing hormone and prolactin in old and young rats. J. Endocrinol. 66: 45–51, 1975.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Riegle G.D., Meites J.: Effects of aging on LH and prolactin after LRH, L-dopa, methyl-dopa, and stress in male rats. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 15: 507–511, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Takahashi S., Kawashima S., Wakabayashi K.: Effects of gonadectomy and chlorpromazine treatment on prolactin, LH and FSH secretion in young and old rats of both sexes. Exp. Gerontol. 15: 185–194, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Blackman M.R., Mukherjee A., Tsitouras P.D., et al.: Decreased in vitro secretion of LH, FSH and free α-subunits by pituitary cells from old male rats. Am. J. Physiol. 249: E145–E151, 1985.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bonetti A.C., Bellini F., Calderini G., et al.: Age-dependent changes in the mechanisms controlling prolactin secretion and phosphatidylinositol turnover in male rats: effects of phosphatidylserine. Neuroendocrinology 45: 123–129, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lai H., Bowden D.M., Horita A.: Age-related decreases in dopamine receptors in the caudate nucleus and putamen of the Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Neurobiol. Aging 8: 45–49, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Roth G.S., Henry J.M., Joseph J.A.: The striatal dopaminergic system as a model for modulation of altered neurotransmitter action during aging: effects of dietary and neuroendocrine manipulations. Prog. Brain Res. 70: 473–484, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Arita J., Reymond M.J., Porter J.C.: Evidence for alteration in the processing of dopamine in the anterior pituitary gland of aged rats: receptors and intracellular compartmentalization of dopamine. Endocrinology 114: 974–979, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Govoni S., Memo M., Saiani L., et al.: Impairments of brain neurotransmitter receptors in aged rats. Mech. Aging. Dev. 12: 39–46, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Winer B.J.: Statistical Principles in Experimental Design, ed. 2. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Scatchard G.: The attraction of proteins for small molecules and ions. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 51: 660–667, 1949.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lowry O.H., Rosebrough N.J., Fair A.L., et al.: Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 93: 265–275, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ben-Jonathan N., Oliver C., Weiner H.J., et al.: Dopamine in hypophyseal portal plasma of the rat during the estrous cycle and throughout pregnancy. Endocrinology 100: 452–458, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gudelsky G.A., Porter J.C.: Release of newly synthesized dopamine into the hypophyseal portal vasculature of the rat. Endocrinology 104: 583–587, 1979.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Caron M.G., Beaulieu M., Raymond V., et al.: Dopaminergic receptors in the anterior pituitary gland: correlation of (3H) dihydroergocryptine binding with the dopaminergic control of prolactin release. J. Biol. Chem. 253: 2244–2253, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cronin M.J., Weiner R.I.: (3H) Spiroperidol (spiperone) binding to a putative dopamine receptor in sheep and steer pituitary and stalk median eminence. Endocrinology 104: 307–313, 1979.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Libertun C., Larrea G.A., Vacas M.I., et al.: 3(H)-Dihydroergocryptine binding in anterior pituitary and prolactin secretion: further evidence of brain regulation of adenohypophyseal receptors. Endocrinology 107: 1905–1909, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Pasqualini C., Bojda F., Kerdelhue B.: Direct effect of estradiol on the number of dopamine receptors in the anterior pituitary of ovariectomized rats. Endocrinology 119: 2484–2489, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sarkar D.K., Gottschall P.E., Meites J.: Damage to hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons is associated with development of prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. Science 218: 684–686, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Demarest K.T., Moore K.E., Riegle G.D.: Dopaminergic neuronal function, anterior pituitary dopamine content, and serum concentrations of prolactin, luteinizing hormone and progesterone in the aged female rat. Brain Res. 247: 347–352, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Gudelsky G.A., Nansel D.D., Porter J.C.: Dopaminergic control of prolactin secretion in the aging male rat. Brain Res. 204: 446–450, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Reymond M.J., Porter J.C.: Secretion of hypothalamic dopamine into pituitary stalk blood of aged female rats. Brain. Res. Bull. 7: 69–73, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Berkevens J.M., van Nesselrooy J.H.J., Droes R.: Spontaneous tumours in the pituitary gland of old Wistar rats. A morphological and immunocytochemical study. J. Pathol. 130: 179–189, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Takahashi S., Kawashima S.: Age-related changes in prolactin cells in male and female rats of the Wistar/Tw strain. J. Sci. Hiroshima Univ. 31: 185–191, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Chuknyiska R.S., Blackman M.R., Hymer, W.C., et al.: Age-related alterations in the number and function of pituitary lactotropic cells from intact and ovariectomized rats. Endocrinology 118: 1856–1862, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Watkins B.E., McKay D.W., Meites J., et al.: L-Dopa effects on serum LH and prolactin in old and young female rats. Neuroendocrinology 19: 331–338, 1975.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Schrey M.P., Clark H.J., Franks S.: The dopaminergic regulation of anterior pituitary 45Ca+2 homeostasis and prolactin secretion. J. Endocrinol. 108: 423–429, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Physiology and Genetics Section, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    K. Kochman, M. A. Kowatch & G. S. Roth

  2. Endocrinology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Physiology, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Rm 2B-20, NIA, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, USA

    M. R. Blackman (M.D.)

Authors
  1. K. Kochman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Kowatch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. S. Roth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. R. Blackman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kochman, K., Kowatch, M.A., Roth, G.S. et al. Effects of age and sex on basal and dopamine-inhibited in vitro prolactin release, and dopamine receptor binding, by the rat adenohypophysis. Aging Clin Exp Res 5, 349–356 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324186

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324186

En]Keywords

Search

Navigation