title: Effects of prolactin on osteoblast alkaline phosphatase and bone formation in the developing rat.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to determine whether maternal prolactin (PRL) had any effects on bone formation in the developing rat pup. Because the most prevalent forms of PRL in rats are unmodified and phosphorylated PRL, both recombinant PRL and a molecular mimic of phosphorylated PRL (PP-PRL) were administered to pregnant animals. Blood samples from the dams showed normal estrogen and progesterone and no effect of extra PRL on parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, or alkaline phosphatase (AP). In newborn pups, however, there was a 30% decrease in blood AP in both PRL-treated groups, whereas PTH and calcium levels were not different from controls. When primary rat osteoblasts were exposed to both PRLs, AP activity was reduced, with PP-PRL being the more potent form of the hormone. Histological examination of pup bone formation showed reduced calvarial bone and reduced endochondral ossification in pups exposed to PP-PRL. These results are the first to show a direct inhibitory effect of PRL on osteoblast function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside 92521, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coss
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Luben
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012886:Skull / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium