Effect of estrogen on prolactin mRNA in the rat pituitary. Analysis by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.
The effect of estrogen on prolactin (PRL) synthesis at a single-cell level was studied by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Long-term estrogen treatment increased PRL-containing cells from 10-20% of total cell population to 80-90%, as revealed by immunohistochemistry. PRL mRNA containing cells also increased in a similar fashion. Moreover, cytoplasmic PRL mRNA expressed as the number of silver grains per cell increased 4- to 5-fold by estrogen. These results suggest that long-term estrogen treatment causes not only PRL cell proliferation but also an increase in PRL mRNA in a single cell.
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D004247:DNA