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Estriol affects prolactin and LH secretion in rats

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Abstract

The effects of estriol on serum prolactin (PRL) and LH levels, on the pituitary response to TRH and LHRH and on the synthesis and release of PRL from the anterior pituitary gland were investigated in female rats. The increase of serum PRL levels after estradiol administration was found to be associated with an increase of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) in the hypothalamus. Thus, a study was carried out on the effects of estradiol and estriol on PRL secretion and on GAD, GABA-T and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) in the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary. Under basal and TRH-stimulated conditions, estriol increased serum PRL levels, decreased basal serum LH levels, and increased the response to LHRH, in terms of LH release. Estradiol and estriol increased the synthesis and release of 3H-PRL from hemipituitary glands in incubations of pretreated animals. Both estrogens induced hyperprolactinemia, concomitantly with an increase of hypothalamic GAD and GABA-T activity. Estriol increased hypothalamic GABA concentration, but did not modify GABA concentration in the pituitary glands. Our results show that estriol, at relatively high doses, seems to be active in increasing PRL synthesis and release and in decreasing serum LH levels; it can also modify pituitary response to TRH and LHRH stimulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciones en Reproduccion, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, 1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Maria Carmen del Diaz, A. Seilicovich, B. H. Duvilanski, M. Lasaga & L. Debeljuk

  2. Department of Gynecology, Hospital General San Martin, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    N. Siseles

Authors
  1. Maria Carmen del Diaz
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  2. A. Seilicovich
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  3. B. H. Duvilanski
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  4. N. Siseles
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  5. M. Lasaga
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  6. L. Debeljuk
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del Diaz, M.C., Seilicovich, A., Duvilanski, B.H. et al. Estriol affects prolactin and LH secretion in rats. J Endocrinol Invest 12, 1–7 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349902

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