title: The short prolactin receptor predominates in endothelial cells of micro- and macrovascular origin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Controversial reports on prolactin receptors (PRL-R), the long and short form, on endothelial cells (EC) may be explained by the choice of EC derived from the micro- and macrovascular bed of either endocrine and non-endocrine organs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied here PRL-R expression in organs [bovine corpus luteum (CL), umbilical vein, aorta] and in organ-derived EC cultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the intact CL, both PRL-R forms were present at mRNA and protein level throughout the oestrous cycle stages. The short form prevailed as protein. PRL-R-positive EC were noted by immunofluorescent staining in arterial blood vessels of CL septa, in the umbilical vein and the aorta. In EC cultures of micro- and macrovascular origin, transcripts of both PRL-R forms were shown; again the short-form protein prevailed. Blocking experiments with anti-prolactin (PRL) antibody led to a 60% decrease in cell growth. Treatment with PRL had no effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRL-R expression in micro- and macrovascular EC is associated with the predominant short form.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 13, DE-04103 Leipzig, Germany. albert.ricken@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Albert M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ricken
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traenkner
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merkwitz
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hummitzsch
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grosche
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spanel-Borowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000098:blood supply*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin