title: Functional aspects of the effect of prolactin (PRL) on adrenal steroidogenesis and distribution of the PRL receptor in the human adrenal gland.
abstract: Hyperprolactinemia is one of the most common disorders in endocrinology. A role for PRL on the human adrenal gland has been postulated in various clinical studies. We have demonstrated for the first time the expression of the PRL receptor in the human adrenal gland and in human adrenal primary cell cultures using PCR and immunohistochemical methods. Using immunostaining, we could detect the PRL receptor in all three zones of the adrenal cortex. Only weak staining was observed in the adrenal medulla. The influence of PRL on the secretion of cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens in human primary cell cultures was investigated. After stimulation with PRL (10(-7) mol/L), we measured increased concentrations of cortisol (155 +/- 9.8%; P < 0.005%), aldosterone (122 +/- 3.7%; P < 0.005), and dehydroepiandrosterone (121 +/- 8.6%; P < 0.05) in the cell supernatant. PRL did not affect the expression of messenger ribonucleic acid of cytochrome P45017 alpha in human adrenal cell cultures. In conclusion, we found the PRL receptor in the human adrenal gland. We postulate that PRL has a direct effect on adrenal steroidogenesis, thereby regulating adrenal function, which may be of particular relevance in clinical disorders with hyperprolactinemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glasow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breidert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haidan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Anderegg
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bornstein
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015335:Molecular Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase