Effect of prolactin on the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEA-S), and cortisol by the human fetal adrenal in vitro.
The effect of prolactin on the secretions of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) as well as that of cortisol were studied in vitro in order to investigate the possible regulatory role of prolactin on steroidogenesis of the human fetal adrenal at mid-gestational age. The addition of 0.5 microgram/ml of human prolactin to the incubation medium produced a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in DHEA, DHEA-S, and cortisol secretion. These results indicate that prolactin has a regulatory role in steroidogenesis in the human fetal adrenal at mid-gestation.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone