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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Isolation of Primary Human Decidual Cells from the Fetal Membranes of Term Placentae
Published on: April 30, 2018
The effects of L-arginine on the release of prolactin from decidual explants in vitro
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Objective:
Our aim was to elucidate a role for the L -arginine-nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway in the control of decidual prolactin release in vitro.
Study Design:
In decidua obtained from normal vaginal deliveries, we examined the effects of L -arginine; a stable analog of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate; and two nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, L -nitro arginine methyl ester (L -NAME) and L -nitro monomethyl arginine (L -NMMA) on the release of prolactin from decidual tissue in vitro.
Results:
L -arginine, at 100 micromol/L, produced an increase in medium prolactin concentration after a 2-hour exposure; however, its inactive isomer, D -arginine, at the same concentration, did not. The increase in prolactin release initiated by L -arginine was sustained after a 24-hour incubation. In addition, 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (10 micromol/L) stimulated prolactin release. At 2 hours, the effects of L -arginine were reversed by L -NAME (100 micromol/L), which by itself was without effect. Incubation of tissue with L -NAME for 24 hours inhibited prolactin secretion (24 hours; P <.05, vs control); however, L -NMMA was without effect.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the L -arginine-nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway is involved in the regulation of prolactin secretion by decidual tissue.
