title: Cysteamine depletes prolactin in young and old hyperprolactinemic rats.
abstract: Studies were undertaken to evaluate the effects of cysteamine on serum and anterior pituitary concentrations of prolactin in hyperprolactinemic female rats. Serum prolactin was elevated in young (4 to 5 months old) rats by implantation of 17 beta-estradiol while 26- to 28-month-old rats were in constant estrus and exhibited an age-related hyperprolactinemia. At 4 h after treatment with cysteamine (90 mg/kg body wt) serum and anterior pituitary prolactin concentrations were reduced in young animals by 98 and 85%, respectively. In old constant-estrous rats, cysteamine reduced serum prolactin by 92% and anterior pituitary prolactin by 82%. In young pseudopregnant rats, cysteamine induced a prompt resumption of estrous cycles. These studies indicate that cysteamine is an effective depletor of serum and pituitary prolactin in hyperprolactinemic rats.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D003543:Cysteamine; D011388:Prolactin