Effects of Variations in Environmental Lighting on Pituitary and Plasma Prolactin Levels in the Rat

1972 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 278-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Relkin
1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-408
Author(s):  
Ph. Touraine ◽  
P. Birman ◽  
F. Bai-Grenier ◽  
C. Dubray ◽  
F. Peillon ◽  
...  

Abstract In order to investigate whether a calcium channel blocker could modulate the protein kinase C activity in normal and estradiol pretreated rat pituitary, female Wistar rats were treated or not (controls) with ± PN 200-110 (3 mg · kg−1 · day−1, sc) for 8 days or with estradiol cervical implants for 8 or 15 days, alone or in combination with PN 200-110 the last 8 days. Estradiol treatment induced a significant increase in plasma prolactin levels and pituitary weight. PN 200-110 administered to normal rats did not modify these parameters, whereas it reduced the effects of the 15 days estradiol treatment on prolactin levels (53.1 ± 4.9 vs 95.0 ±9.1 μg/l, p<0.0001) and pituitary weight (19.9 ± 0.4 vs 23.0 ± 0.6 mg, p <0.001), to values statistically comparable to those measured after 8 days of estradiol treatment. PN 200-110 alone did not induce any change in protein kinase C activity as compared with controls. In contrast, PN 200-110 treatment significantly counteracted the large increase in soluble activity and the decrease in the particulate one induced by estradiol between day 8 and day 15. We conclude that PN 200-110 opposed the stimulatory effects of chronic in vivo estradiol treatment on plasma prolactin levels and pituitary weight and that this regulation was related to a concomitant modulation of the protein kinase C activity.


Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 361-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Ubilla ◽  
PG Rebollar ◽  
D Pazo ◽  
AI Esquifino ◽  
JM Alvarino

The effects of a transient doe-litter separation on plasma prolactin, FSH and oestradiol concentrations, as well as the effect on LH response to exogenous GnRH administered at the time of artificial insemination, were determined in nursing rabbits. The effects on fertility, and litter size after parturition, as well as litter survival after doe-litter separation, were also studied. Control does (n = 12) had free access to nursing, whereas biostimulated does (n = 12) were separated from their litters for 48 h before artificial insemination. Plasma prolactin concentrations were decreased 24 h after the doe-litter separation (P < 0.05). The response of prolactin to suckling reached 10 times the basal values measured on day 10 after parturition (P < 0.0001). Increased oestradiol concentrations were found during the 48 h after the doe-litter separation: at 0 h, before artificial insemination (P< 0. 0001), 1.0-2.0 h after artificial insemination (P < 0.001), at 2.5 h (P < 0.05), 3.0 h (P < 0.01), and at 3.5 h (P < 0.05) after artificial insemination. Exogenous GnRH administered at the time of artificial insemination caused a greater LH response in does previously separated from their litters during 48 h (P < 0.01). The transient doe-litter separation did not affect plasma FSH concentrations, fertility, litter size or litter survival. These results suggest that a transient separation of nursing does from their litters before artificial insemination results in a decrease in plasma prolactin concentrations that could promote growth of follicular waves, and high steroidogenesis activity, leading to increased oestradiol concentrations and inducing higher sensitivity of the pituitary gland to exogenous GnRH. These findings associated to the absence of suckling episodes would lead to higher LH response and, therefore, exert a major effect on fertility.


2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-10) ◽  
pp. 419-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Madej ◽  
L.-E. Edqvist ◽  
H. Kindahl ◽  
G. Ekbohm

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 688-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Grusie ◽  
V. Cowan ◽  
J. Singh ◽  
J. McKinnon ◽  
B. Blakley

Cows were fed ration for 9 wk containing 5, 48, 201, and 822 μg kg−1 ergot alkaloids. The objective was to evaluate the impact of ergot consumption in beef cow–calf operations. Ergot alkaloids up to 822 μg kg−1 did not alter the weight of peripartum and postpartum beef cows (P = 0.93) or nursing calves (P = 0.08), rectal temperature (P = 0.16), or plasma prolactin concentrations (P = 0.30) at moderate ambient temperatures. Ergot did not influence the time (>1 ng mL−1; P = 0.79) or the progesterone concentration (P = 0.38) at the time of first postpartum rise or the size of the first (14 ± 0.6 mm; P = 0.40) and second (13 ± 0.5 mm; P = 0.41) follicles to ovulate. The maximum size of the first postpartum corpus luteum (CL) was 4 mm larger in the 822 μg kg−1 ergot group compared with the control (P = 0.03) for the first ovulation post partum, but not for the second (P = 0.11). There was no effect of ergot exposure on the number of days until the appearance of the first (43 ± 4 d; P = 0.95) or second (52 ± 4 d; P = 0.98) CL post partum. Ergot alkaloid concentrations up to 822 μg kg−1 did not affect pregnancy rates (X2 = 0.36). In conclusion, ergot alkaloid exposure for 9 wk to concentrations as high as 822 μg kg−1 did not alter performance in pregnant and postpartum beef cattle at moderate ambient temperatures.


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 643-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. FITZGERALD ◽  
G. A. EVERETT ◽  
J. APGAR

The effect of low dietary Zn intake upon several plasma endocrine and metabolic profiles was examined during late gestation in the ewe. Thirty adult, primiparous Finncross ewes were fed a low Zn diet with (+Zn, n = 14) or without (0Zn, n = 16) supplemental Zn in the drinking water starting day 1 of pregnancy. Although the mean prepartum progesterone and prolactin concentrations were lower (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) in 0Zn than in +Zn ewes, the peak prolactin concentrations in 0Zn ewes at lambing were similar to +Zn ewes. Both basal and thyrotropin-releasing-hormone (TRH)-induced prolactin release were less (P < 0.01) in 0Zn ewes 2 d postpartum. Plasma concentrations of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2α (PGFM) of ewes sampled within 45 min post-lambing were lower (P < 0.05) in 0Zn ewes. There was no difference in cortisol concentrations within 45 min after lambing between 0Zn and + Zn ewes. Plasma protein concentrations in 0Zn ewes were higher (P < 0.01) than those in +Zn ewes during pregnancy. In summary, these data show that low Zn intake in the pregnant ewe affected several endocrine and metabolic plasma parameters associated with normal pregnancy and parturition. Key words: Zinc, parturition, dystocia, feed intake, ovine


1988 ◽  
Vol 17 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Prandi ◽  
M. Motta ◽  
F. Chiesa ◽  
C. Tamanini

1977 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. PANERAI ◽  
IRIT GIL-AD ◽  
DANIELA COCCHI ◽  
V. LOCATELLI ◽  
G. L. ROSSI ◽  
...  

SUMMARY To determine how the sensitivity of the ectopic anterior pituitary gland to the GH-releasing effect of thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) might be affected by the time lapse from transplantation, TRH (0·15 and 0·6 μg) was injected i.v. into hypophysectomized (hypox)-transplanted rats under urethane anaesthesia 1,3, 8,15, 30 and 60 days after transplantation, and plasma samples were taken 5 and 10 min later. Baseline GH values gradually decreased with time from about 16·0 ng/ml (1 day) to about 3·0 ng/ml (30 and 60 days). The TRH-induced GH release was absent 1 day after transplantation, present only with the higher TRH dose 3 and 8 days after transplantation, and clearly elicitable, also with the lower TRH dose (0·15 μg), from 15 up to 60 days. Determination of plasma prolactin concentrations showed a decline from about 85·0 ng/ml (1 day) to about 32·0 ng/ml (8 days); subsequently (15–60 days) prolactin values stabilized. Plasma prolactin levels increased 15 and 60 days after transplantation only when a dose of 0·6 μg TRH was given. In intact weight-matched rats, TRH induced a GH response only at the dose of 1·2 μg while a short-lived but clear-cut prolactin response could be obtained even with the 0·3 μg dose. The present results indicate that: (1) disconnexion between the central nervous system and the anterior pituitary gland greatly enhances GH responsiveness while blunting prolactin responsiveness to TRH; (2) the sensitivity of the anterior pituitary gland to the GH-releasing effect of TRH increases with time from transplantation; (3) TRH is a more effective prolactin-than GH-releaser on the pituitary gland in situ.


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