title: Potentiation of the mitogenic effect of estrogen on the pituitary-gland by alcohol-consumption.
abstract: The effect of alcohol on estrogen-regulated lactotropic cell proliferation was examined in Fisher 344 rats. Alcohol was administered for 2 weeks using liquid diet containing 8.7% ethanol (v/v) and 37% ethanol-derived calories. The control group was pair-fed with an isocaloric diet minus the ethanol or adlib-fed with normal diet. Ethanol-treated rats showed mean blood ethanol concentrations between 60-90 mg/dl. Alcohol treatment did not effect the body growth rate, but increased the DNA synthesis in lactotropes and reduced the levels of lactotropic growth inhibitory transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) protein and mRNA in the pituitary. These results suggest that alcohol promotes estrogen-induced lactotropic proliferation, possibly by down regulating the inhibitory TGF-beta 1 control of lactotropic function.
authors.affiliation: WASHINGTON STATE UNIV, DEPT VET & COMPARAT ANAT PHARMACOL & PHYSIOL, PULLMAN, WA 99164 USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DE
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boyadjieva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastorcic
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar