title: Effect of adrenalectomy on mating-induced prolactin surges and pseudopregnancy in the female rat.
abstract: In the estrous female rat, mating stimulation induces an acute surge of prolactin (PRL) within 20 min after mating followed by the onset of twice-daily PRL surges which persist for an 8- to 13-day period of acyclicity called pseudopregnancy. In Experiment 1, we examined whether the release of adrenal hormones after mating modulates mating-induced PRL secretion during the first 38 h after mating. Ovariectomized females were adrenalectomized (Adx) or sham-operated (Sham) and were implanted with jugular vein catheters 2 days later. They were given estrogen and progesterone and mated 6 days after the last surgery until they received 15 intromissions or 15 mounts-without-intromission from a male. Blood samples were collected beginning 20 min before mating at 23:00 h and continuing for 38 h. Plasma PRL concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay. Mating that included intromissions induced an acute (20-min) PRL response which was higher in Adx than in Sham animals, and advanced in the Adx animals in the onset of the first daily PRL surge to 10:00 h, some 18 h before the surge was observed at 04:00 h in the Sham-mated animals. A small but measurable nocturnal surge was observed in Adx and Sham groups 18-24 h later at 04:00-10:00 h. In Experiment 2, Adx- and Sham-cycling animals received 5 (5I) or 7 (7I) intromissions from a male 12-16 days after surgery. Adx animals receiving 5I showed a significantly higher incidence of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy (%P/PSP) than did Sham 5I animals, while there was no difference in %P/PSP in the 7I groups. We conclude that adrenal gland secretions normally suppress plasma PRL concentrations immediately post-mating and before the onset of the nocturnal mating-induced PRL surge and also inhibit pseudopregnancy when females receive a subthreshold number of intromissions normally required for its induction.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin