Expression and cellular localization of prolactin and the prolactin receptor in mammalian retina.
Prolactin (PRL), originally associated with milk secretion, is known to have a wide variety of biological actions and diverse sites of production beyond the pituitary gland. Recent studies have demonstrated that PRL is synthesized in retinal tissue. To gain insights into the functional role of PRL in the mammalian retina, we mapped the distribution of the PRL protein and the expression and localization of the PRL receptor (PRLR) in the retina of adult rats and green monkeys. PRL was examined in retinal sections by double immunolabeling combining anti-PRL antibodies with antibodies specific for glutamine synthetase (labeling Müller cells), glial fibrillary acidic protein (labeling astrocytes), or neuronal nuclei protein (labeling neurons). PRL was detected throughout the rat retina: in the photoreceptor outer segments, Müller cells, interneurons, ganglion cells, and astrocytes. The PRLR was examined by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. The long isoform of the PRLR was localized in the photoreceptor nuclear layer, inner nuclear layer, and ganglion cell layer of rat retina. The monkey retina showed a similar distribution of PRL and PRLR immunoreactivities. These findings suggest that PRL functions as a local regulator of various cell types in the mammalian retina.
Rivera
José C
JC
Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, QRO, Mexico.
Aranda
Jorge
J
Riesgo
Juan
J
Nava
Gabriel
G
Thebault
Stéphanie
S
López-Barrera
Fernando
F
Ramírez
Mayda
M
Martínez de la Escalera
Gonzalo
G
Clapp
Carmen
C
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism*; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000378:metabolism; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013045:Species Specificity
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin