Abstract
PROLACTIN (PRL) secretion from the mammalian anterior pituitary gland is apparently chiefly under hypothalamic tonic inhibition in contrast to the primarily stimulatory influence of the brain on the other trophic hormones1. Extracts of mammalian hypothalamus inhibit the release of PRL in vitro and in vivo1. We report here that PRL-inhibiting-factor (PIF) activity in certain fractions derived from acetic acid extracts of bovine hypothalamus was due to nickel ion (Ni2+) in the extracts. Commercial nickel salts and purified PIF from bovine brain specifically inhibit release of PRL in vivo in the rat and in vitro from bovine pituitary, (a) in basal conditions, (b) in the presence of copper ion which markedly enhances release of all trophic hormones, and (c) following brief exposure of the pituitary tissue to cold, another effective, non-specific stimulant of hormone release.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Meites, J., in Rec. progr. Horm. Res., 28, 471 (1972).
Catt, K. J., Niall, H. D., Treagear, G. W., and Burger, H. B., J. clin. Endocr. Metab., 28, 121 (1968).
Donald, R. A., J. Endocr., 41, 499 (1968).
Steel, R. G. D., and Torrie, J. H., Principles and Procedures of Statistics (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1960).
LaBella, F. S., and Vivian, S., Endocrinology, 88, 787 (1971).
Vivian, S., and LaBella, F. S., Mem. endocr. Soc., 19, 203 (1971).
Vivian, S., and LaBella, F. S., J. clin. Endocr. Metab., 33, 225 (1971).
Reichlin, S., Martin, J. B., Boshans, R. L., Schalck, D. S., Pierce, J. G., and Bollinger, J., Endocrinology, 87, 1022 (1970).
LaBella, F. S., Dular, R., Vivian, S., and Queen, G., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun., 52, 786 (1973).
LaBella, F. S., Dular, R., and Vivian, S., Endocrinology, 92, 1571 (1973).
Parsons, J. A., J. Physiol., Lond., 210, 973 (1970).
LaBella, F. S., Vivian, S., Dular, R., and Eddie, L., Serono Foundation Conference on Hypothalamic Hypophysiotropic Hormones (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LABELLA, F., DULAR, R., LEMON, P. et al. Prolactin Secretion is Specifically Inhibited by Nickel. Nature 245, 330–332 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/245330a0
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/245330a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Protective Effects of Selenium and Zinc Against Nickel Chloride–Induced Hormonal Changes and Oxidative Damage in Thyroid of Pregnant Rats
Biological Trace Element Research (2022)
-
Effect of Nickel Supplementation on Liver and Kidney Function Test and Protein Metabolism in Growing Cattle
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences (2020)
-
Effects of Nickel Supplementation on Antioxidant Status, Immune Characteristics, and Energy and Lipid Metabolism in Growing Cattle
Biological Trace Element Research (2019)
-
The concentration of twelve elements in the anterior pituitary from human subjects and rats as measured by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE)
Biological Trace Element Research (1988)