title: Prolactin-induced mitogenesis of lymphocytes from ovariectomized rats.
abstract: PRL can induce interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor expression in splenocytes from ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. In this further study of the effects of PRL on lymphocytes in vitro we found that PRL induced IL-2 receptor expression, IL-2 production, and proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes from OVX rats. Cells from male rats were not affected. The proliferative response, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, depended on the concentration of PRL and the presence of adherent cells in the culture. After a 48-h incubation with PRL (1 microgram/ml), splenocytes from OVX rats incorporated essentially the same amount of [3H]thymidine as cells incubated with the polyclonal T-cell mitogen Concanavalin-A (ConA). As determined by autoradiography, approximately 40% of the splenocytes responded to PRL or to ConA. After incubation of splenocytes and thymocytes with PRL, bioactive IL-2 was detected in culture medium only from cells of OVX female rats, while incubation with ConA caused IL-2 production by lymphocytes from both male and OVX rats. However, ConA induced IL-2 activity sooner than PRL. Immunofluorescent-flow cytometric analysis revealed time-dependent increases in percentages of IL-2 receptor-positive splenocytes as well as increases in percentages of total T-cells and cells of the CD8 and, to a lesser extent, the CD4 subclass after PRL stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Viselli
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Stanek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hymer
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mastro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A; D011388:Prolactin; D004247:DNA