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Effect of prolactin and estrogen on the serum level of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D and FGF23 in female rats

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Estrogen and prolactin affect vitamin D metabolism. In conditions such as pregnancy and lactation, their interaction in regulating vitamin D metabolism and circulating FGF23 is not clearly defined. The aim of this study is to investigate this interaction in female rats.

Method

This study was performed on 50 female adult rats, which were divided into five groups of Sham, ovariectomized rats (O), and three groups of ovariectomized rats were indicated with prolactin alone (OP), estradiol alone (OE), and a combination of estradiol and prolactin (OEP). Serum levels of 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D3, FGF23, PTH, vitamin D-binding protein, calcium, and phosphorous were evaluated.

Results

Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 and PTH in OE were higher than the O group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). Serum FGF23 in the OE group was lower than the O group (P = 0.016). Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 increased in OP compared to the O group (P < 0.001) and OE group (P < 0.001). Serum FGF23 in OP was lower than the O group (P = 0.04). Furthermore, combining estradiol and prolactin showed no extra effect on increasing serum 1,25(OH)2D3. Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 was positively correlated with serum prolactin levels (r = 0.318, P = 0.017) in all five groups.

Conclusion

It is suggested that estradiol could increase 1,25(OH)2D3 by elevating PTH and decreasing serum FGF23; however, prolactin was able to increase 1,25(OH)2D3 by lowering serum FGF23. Moreover, prolactin was shown to be more potent in augmenting serum 1,25(OH)2D3 than estrogen itself, which is important in maternal and fetal calcium supply during late pregnancy and lactation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Research Consultation Center (RCC) at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for their invaluable assistance in editing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shiraz Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box, 71345-1744, Shiraz, Iran

    Forough Saki, Faezeh Sadeghian, Seyed Reza Kasaee, Farhad Koohpeyma & Gholam Hossein Ranjbar Omrani

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  1. Forough Saki
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  2. Faezeh Sadeghian
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  3. Seyed Reza Kasaee
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  4. Farhad Koohpeyma
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  5. Gholam Hossein Ranjbar Omrani
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Contributions

FS: design, data gathering, preparing the manuscript; SRK: data gathering, preparing the manuscript; FK: data gathering, preparing the manuscript; GRO: concept, design, data gathering, preparing the manuscript and the correspondence.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gholam Hossein Ranjbar Omrani.

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Conflict of interest

Gholamhossein Ranjbar Omrani, Faezeh Sadeghian, Seyed Reza Kasaee, Farhad Koohpeima and Forough Saki declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences’ local ethics committee and vice-chancellor of research approved this study with ID: 95–01-01–12,776.

Human and animal rights

The study was done according to the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of in Vivo Experiments) guidelines on the use and care of research animals.

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This study is an animal study, so Informed consent was not applicable.

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Saki, F., Sadeghian, F., Kasaee, S.R. et al. Effect of prolactin and estrogen on the serum level of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D and FGF23 in female rats. Arch Gynecol Obstet 302, 265–271 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05567-6

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