title: Differential dopamine-induced prolactin mRNA levels in various prolactin-secreting cell (sub)populations.
abstract: We have examined the effects of dopamine on prolactin gene expression using quantitative in-situ hybridization histochemistry in different pituitary cell (sub)populations separated according to their density on a discontinuous Percoll gradient. Administration of dopamine resulted in a drastic reduction in hybridization of 35S-labelled DNA probe complementary to prolactin mRNA in total pituitary cells and in lactotrophs with low density. In contrast, dopamine significantly stimulated mRNA accumulation in prolactin-secreting cells with high density compared with other cell layers. The combined use of Percoll gradient and quantitative in-situ hybridization is a valuable and sensitive method with which to examine prolactin-secreting cell response to a given stimulation. Prolactin-secreting cells with high and low density clearly show functional heterogeneity in their response to dopamine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazemzadeh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Velkeniers
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herregodts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Collumbien
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Finné
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Derde
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanhaelst
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hooghe-Peters
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011388:Prolactin; D004298:Dopamine