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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Evaluation of Mammary Gland Development and Function in Mouse Models
Published on: July 21, 2011
Prolactin activation of mammary nitric oxide synthase: molecular mechanisms
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA. Bolander@sc.edu
Abstract:
Prolactin (PRL) is capable of stimulating both calcium and nitric oxide (NO) accumulation in mammary epithelial cells within 15min. A calcium ionophore was also able to stimulate NO levels to an extent similar to that generated by PRL. Furthermore, maximal concentrations of PRL and the ionophore were not additive, suggesting that they were both using the same pathway, i.e. calcium. Finally, the depletion of intracellular calcium completely abrogated the effect of PRL on NO production. No other pathway known to affect NO synthase (NOS) influenced the action of PRL. Specifically, manipulations of protein phosphatase 2B, protein kinase B (PKB), protein kinase C (PKC), and arginine transport did not alter the activation of NOS by PRL. Therefore, the ability of PRL to stimulate NO production at 15min can be completely explained by its ability to elevate intracellular calcium.
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