title: Secretion of prolactin in response to serotonin requires an intact hypothalamo-pituitary axis in the ewe.
abstract: The effects of prolactin secretion and the subsequent site of action of serotonin (5-HT) were examined in ovariectomized hypothalamo-pituitary intact (HP-intact) and ovariectomized hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected (HPD) ewes. The administration of 5 mg per animal of 5-HT increased plasma prolactin concentrations within 20 min by 2- to 3-fold in HP-intact ewes, but had no effect in HPD ewes. Injection of vehicle (saline) did not alter plasma prolactin concentrations in either group. These data indicate that 5-HT is involved in the control of prolactin secretion in sheep and that this action is exerted at the level of the hypothalamus and not directly at the anterior pituitary gland.
authors: Medical Research Centre, Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: G B
authors: GB
authors: Thomas
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Cummins
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D011388:Prolactin