Effect of long-term corticosteroid administration on rat pituitary growth hormone and prolactin

1985 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Oosterom ◽  
T. Verleun ◽  
J. Zuiderwijk ◽  
P. Uitterlinden ◽  
S. W. J. Lamberts

Abstract. In vitro corticosteroids stimulate GH synthesis by pituitary cells, while in vivo they suppress stimulated plasma GH levels. In this study we investigated in rats the effect of hydrocortisone administration for 2–4 weeks on pituitary GH content. Hydrocortisone added to the drinking water (100 mg/l) resulted in a marked stimulation of pituitary GH content after 3 and 4 weeks of treatment. No significant stimulation, however, was observed on basal GH release by the pituitary gland incubated in vitro. Further, we found that both Prl content and release were inhibited by hydrocortisone administration.

1990 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Robinson ◽  
J. J. Evans

ABSTRACT We previously demonstrated that oxytocin stimulates LH release from rat pituitary cells in vitro and advances follicular development and ovulation in mice in vivo. This study reports an investigation of rat LH levels following in-vivo administration of oxytocin. Injection of oxytocin (10 mIU/g, i.p.) to rats at 07.00, 08.00 and 09.00 h of pro-oestrus or at 09.00, 10.00 and 11.00 h of pro-oestrus advanced the onset of the LH surge (P<0.005) and attainment of peak concentrations of LH (P<0.02) in peripheral blood. On the other hand, the descending phase of the LH surge and the surge amplitude were not altered by oxytocin. Treatment at 05.00, 06.00 and 07.00 h of pro-oestrus or at 11.00, 12.00 and 13.00 h of pro-oestrus had no effect on the LH profile. A higher oxytocin dose (20 mIU/g) inhibited LH release when treatment was begun at 05.00, 07.00 or 09.00 h of pro-oestrus. A lower dose (5 mIU/g) was ineffective in altering LH concentrations. In addition, injections of oxytocin (10 mIU/g) at oestrus, metoestrus or dioestrus had no effect on the release of LH. Thus the efficacy of oxytocin in altering concentrations of LH was dose dependent and also critically affected by the day of the oestrous cycle and the time of pro-oestrus. Removal of endogenous oxytocin activity by the use of an oxytocin receptor antagonist abolished the pro-oestrous LH surge, indicating that oxytocin is a vital physiological component of the LH-releasing mechanism in rats. The study provides unequivocal evidence that oxytocin induces LH release in vivo, but the manifestation of oxytocin activity is dependent upon conditions of exposure. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 125, 425–432


1991 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 518-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Lena Hulting ◽  
Björn Meister ◽  
Lena Carlsson ◽  
Agneta Hilding ◽  
Olle Isaksson

Abstract. The effects of the peptide galanin on growth hormone secretion were studied in vitro using cultured rat and human anterior pituitary cells, and in vivo by iv administration of galanin in both rats and humans. Galanin in concentrations from 10 nmol/l to 1 μmol/l did not alter basal GH release, but slightly inhibited GHRH-stimulated GH release from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells. Galanin (1 μmol/l) did not significantly change basal or GHRH-stimulated GH secretion from cultured human anterior pituitary cells. In contrast, iv injection of 1 μg (300 pmol) galanin to rats induced an increase in plasma GH that was reproducible at repetitive injections. The galanin-induced GH release in rats was of a lower magnitude than the increase in plasma GH after iv injections of GHRH, and was seen with a 5-15 min delay in comparison to iv administered GHRH. In man, iv infusions of galanin (40 pmol ·kg−1 · min−1 · (40 min)) also caused a significant increase in plasma GH, but it occurred 25-30 min after the beginning of the infusion. These results suggest an indirect action of galanin on GH release in both rats and humans, i.e. galanin does not directly affect the somatotropes. In agreement with a central action, no binding sites for galanin could be demonstrated in the rat anterior pituitary by autoradiography. Since galanin did not affect somatostatin release from fragments of rat mediobasal hypothalamus, the stimulatory effects of galanin on GH release are most likely mediated via a stimulatory effect on GHRH neurons.


1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. d'Emden ◽  
J. D. Wark

ABSTRACT The hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) has been shown to selectively enhance agonist-induced TSH release in the rat thyrotroph in vitro. The interaction of 1,25-(OH)2D3 with tri-iodothyronine (T3) and cortisol was studied in primary cultures of dispersed anterior pituitary cells. TRH (1 nmol/l)-induced TSH release over 1 h was enhanced by 70% (P<0·01) following exposure to 10 nmol 1,25-(OH)2D3/l for 24 h. Pretreatment with T3 (1 pmol/l–1 μmol/l) for 24 h caused a dose-dependent inhibition of TRH-induced TSH release. Net TRH-induced TSH release was inhibited by 85% at T3 concentrations of 3 nmol/l or greater. Co-incubation with 1,25-(OH)2D3 resulted in enhanced TRH-induced TSH release at all T3 concentrations tested (P<0·001). The increment of TRH-induced TSH release resulting from 1,25-(OH)2D3 pretreatment was equivalent in the presence or absence of maximal inhibitory T3 concentrations. At 1 nmol T3/1, there was a two- to threefold relative increase in 1,25-(OH)2D3-enhanced TRH-induced TSH release. Incubation with cortisol (100 pmol/l–100 nmol/l) had no effect on basal or TRH-induced TSH release, nor did it alter 1,25-(OH)2D3-enhanced TRH-induced TSH release when added 24 h before, or at the time of addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3. Actinomycin D and α-amanitin abolished 1,25-(OH)2D3-enhanced TSH secretion. These data demonstrate that the action of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the thyrotroph required new RNA transcription, and was not affected by cortisol. In the presence of T3, the response of the thyrotroph to TRH induced by 1,25-(OH)2D3 was increased. We have shown that 1,25-(OH)2D3 has significant effects on the action of TRH and T3 in vitro. These findings support the proposal that 1,25-(OH)2D3 may modulate TSH secretion in vivo. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 121, 451–458


1990 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Burrin ◽  
G. R. Hart

ABSTRACT The 21-amino steroid U74006F is a potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation and has been shown to affect beneficially the acutely injured central nervous system. Therapeutically, it is desirable for this compound to be devoid of steroid side-effects. We have demonstrated a significant (P < 0·001) inhibition of basal ACTH secretion from cultured rat pituitary cells during a 24-h incubation at concentrations (10–100 μmol/l) previously demonstrated to inhibit lipid peroxidation in vitro. U74006F also inhibited corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF)-stimulated ACTH secretion significantly and the combination of dexamethasone and U74006F completely blocked CRF-41-stimulated ACTH secretion. Administration of U74006F in vivo (30 mg/kg, orally, every 6 h for 30 h) had no effect on ACTH levels in normal rats (84±38 vs 45±6 ng/l in control animals) but increased ACTH levels in adrenalectomized rats (1330±295 vs 464±79 ng/l in control animals, P < 0·02). This increase in ACTH was not observed when adrenalectomized animals were maintained on the same regime of U74006F for 5 days. Our data suggest that U74006F is capable of exerting inhibitory effects on ACTH secretion in vitro. In vivo, effects on ACTH secretion were stimulatory rather than inhibitory and only occurred short-term in adrenalectomized animals or chronically in adrenalectomized rats maintained on dexamethasone. No effects on the pituitary-adrenocortical axis were seen following short-term or chronic administration of U74006F in normal rats. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 126, 203–209


1989 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 489-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Hart ◽  
C. Proby ◽  
G. Dedhia ◽  
T. H. Yeo ◽  
G. F. Joplin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Acute and chronic hypopituitarism is associated with severe envenoming by the Burmese Russell's viper. We have demonstrated that in vitro, Burmese Russell's viper venom (0·1–10 μg/ml) causes a dose-dependent release of GH, TSH and ACTH from dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells in culture. At 10 μg/ml, venom causes a significant increase in the release of GH (344%, P<0·001), TSH (168%, P<0·005) and ACTH (>700%, P<0·001). We have also shown that the component (or components) responsible for this stimulatory effect is stable to heat (60 °C, 1 h) and mild trypsinization. Repeated addition of venom (1 μg/ml) to pituitary cells in a perifusion column system demonstrated attenuation of GH release. This reduced response was not due to depletion of the GH pool since the pituitary cells were subsequently able to respond to both GH-releasing factor (GRF) stimulation and KCl depolarization. Somatostatin in a dose which abolished GRF-stimulated GH release failed to affect venom-stimulated GH release, implying that venom acts in a cyclic AMP-independent manner. We conclude that Burmese Russell's viper venom has direct effects on pituitary hormone release in vitro. Whether these effects contribute to its known actions in vivo on the function of the pituitary remains to be established. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 122, 489–494


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (6) ◽  
pp. E925-E932 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Wong ◽  
J. P. Chang ◽  
R. E. Peter

We have previously demonstrated that dopamine (DA) and the DA D1 agonist SKF 38393 stimulate growth hormone (GH) release from perifused pituitary fragments of the goldfish, suggesting an involvement of DA D1 receptors in GH regulation. In the present study, the role of DA on GH release and body growth of the goldfish was further investigated both in vivo and in vitro. DA consistently stimulated GH release in a dose-dependent manner from perifused goldfish pituitary fragments. The GH-releasing action of DA was seasonal, being the highest in sexually regressed fish, intermediate in recrudescent fish, and the lowest in sexually mature (prespawning) fish. Somatostatin, a known GH-release inhibitor in the goldfish, suppressed basal GH release and abolished the GH response to DA in perifused pituitary fragments as well as pituitary cells under static incubation. Intraperitoneal administration of the nonselective DA agonist apomorphine and the D1 agonist SKF 82958 increased the plasma GH levels in the goldfish. These GH responses were blocked by simultaneous treatment with the D1 antagonist Sch 23390 but not the D2 antagonist pimozide. Apomorphine administered orally also induced a similar elevation in plasma GH levels. Long-term feeding with apomorphine was found to be stimulatory to the body growth of goldfish. These results provide evidence that the neurotransmitter DA, by acting through DA D1 receptors in the pituitary, also functions as a GH-releasing factor in the goldfish.


1987 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kid Törnquist

Abstract. The effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) on PRL secretion from rat pituitary in vivo and in vitro was investigated. Treating the rats for three days with 0.05 μg/kg per day had no effect on basal PRL secretion, whereas the TRH-induced PRL secretion was increased (P < 0.001). The enhancing effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 was blunted by verapamil. Incubating dispersed anterior pituitary cells with 10−8 mol/l 1,25(OH)2D3 induced a significant increase in PRL secretion after 96 h (364 ± 30 ng/well vs 481 ± 33 ng/well, P < 0.001; mean ± sem) compared with control cells. The TRH-induced PRL secretion was increased in cells incubated with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 144 h (0.766 ± 0.061 vs 1.024 ± 0.076 μg/well, P < 0.05; mean ± sem) compared with control cells. Neither 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OH-D3) nor 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 had any effects on the PRL secretion. However, when the cells were incubated with both 10−8 mol/l 1,25(OH)2D3 and 10−6 mol/l 25OHD3, the enhancing effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the basal PRL secretion was blunted. The results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 possibly affects the regulation of PRL release from the rat pituitary and that this effect is specific for 1,25(OH)2D3.


1986 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Ultee-van Gessel ◽  
F. G. Leemborg ◽  
F. H. de Jong ◽  
H. J. van der Molen

ABSTRACT The influence of in-vitro conditions on the production of inhibin by Sertoli cells from 21-day-old normal and prenatally irradiated rat testes was studied by measuring inhibin activity in culture media, using the suppression of the release of FSH from cultured rat pituitary cells. Sertoli cells secreted inhibin-like activity during at least 21 days of culture, and cells cultured at 37 °C produced significantly more inhibin than those cultured at 32 °C. The presence of fetal calf serum had no significant effect on inhibin production at 32 °C, while at 37 °C the production was decreased. The presence of ovine FSH stimulated inhibin secretion, while inhibin concentrations in Sertoli cell culture media were decreased after the addition of testosterone. Testosterone, added together with ovine FSH, suppressed inhibin secretion when compared with the levels found in the presence of FSH alone. The presence of spermatogenic cells decreased the release of inhibin. From these results it was concluded that both Sertoli cells isolated from normal immature rat testes and those from testes without spermatogenic cells can secrete inhibin-like activity in culture. A number of discrepancies with in-vivo observations was observed. Therefore, it is likely that the in-vivo situation is too complicated for direct study of the regulation of inhibin production, because of mutual interactions between the testicular compartments. J. Endocr. (1986) 109, 411–418


1990 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Bluet-Pajot ◽  
F. Mounier ◽  
D. Durand ◽  
C. Kordon

ABSTRACT The effects of dopamine on GH release were investigated both in vivo in freely moving intact rats and in rats with a mediobasal hypothalamic lesion, and in vitro in a perifusion system using dispersed male rat pituitary cells kept in primary culture. In vivo, dopamine (5 mg/kg body weight) induced a rapid and very transient increase in plasma GH levels in lesioned but not in intact rats. This increase was markedly inhibited by a prior injection of the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 (0·5 mg/kg) but not of the D2 antagonist domperidone (0·5 mg/kg). The D, agonist SKF 38393 induced a dose-dependent stimulation of GH release in lesioned rats, and the effect obtained with a dose of 5 mg/kg was abolished by pretreatment with SCH 23390 (0·5 mg/kg). In vitro, dopamine (0·1 μmol/l) and SKF 38393 (0·1 μmol/l) provoked a rapid and reversible release of GH from superfused rat pituitary cells; this effect was markedly inhibited by simultaneous superfusion of SCH 23390 (1 μmol/l). These findings indicate that dopamine can stimulate basal GH release at the pituitary level and that this stimulation is mediated by D1 but not by D2 receptors. They also support the hypothesis that unidentified hypothalamic neurohormones may modulate this effect. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 127, 191–196


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