title: The prolactin family hormones regulate vascular tone through NO and prostacyclin production in isolated rat aortic rings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolactin family hormones include growth hormone, placental lactogen and prolactin, which are able to regulate angiogenesis via NO and prostaglandins. However, their effects on vascular tone are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prolactin family hormones on rat vascular tone in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortic rings were prepared from adult male rats and precontracted with phenylephrine, then treated with the hormones and drugs. The tension was measured with isometric force displacement transducer connected to a polygraph. NO production and prostacyclin release in physiological solution was determined. Cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were treated with the hormones and drugs, and the phosphorylation of eNOS at serine 1177 was assessed using Western bolt analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of growth hormone or placental lactogen (0.01-100 nmol/L) induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Both the hormones significantly increased the phosphorylation of eNOS in RAECs and NO level in physiological solution. Preincubation with L-NAME blocked growth hormone- or placental lactogen-induced vasodilation and NO production. Preincubation with an antibody against growth hormone receptors blocked growth hormone- and placental lactogen-induced vasodilation. Addition of a single dose of prolactin (0.01 nmol/L) induced sustained vessel relaxation, whereas multiple doses of prolactin induced a biphasic contraction-relaxation effect. The vascular effects of prolactin depended on endothelium. Prolactin significantly increased the level of prostacyclin I2 in physiological solution. Preincubation with indomethacin or an antibody against prolactin receptors blocked prolactin-induced vasodilation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prolactin family hormones regulate rat vascular tone, selectively promoting either relaxation or contraction of vascular smooth muscle via activation of either growth hormone receptors or prolactin receptors within the endothelium.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: 1] Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, San Luis Potosí 78210, México [2] Neurochemistry Laboratory, Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rosas-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jurado-Manzano
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Manuel Alejandro
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Lee
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salazar-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Pedro Pablo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Martinez-Cuevas
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Aída Jimena
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Velarde-Salcedo
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Medicina, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morales-Loredo
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Medicina, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Tanguma
authors.affiliation: Neurochemistry Laboratory, Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Syed F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Medicina, San Luis Potosí 78210, México.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rubio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012694:Serine; D011388:Prolactin; D010928:Placental Lactogen; D011464:Epoprostenol; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat