Prolactin secretion in anterior pituitary cells: effect of eicosanoids

Ovariectomized Fischer 344 rats were implanted with silastic capsules containing estradiol for approximately 4 weeks to increase the number of lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland. Anterior pituitary cells were enzymatically dispersed and cultured for 1 day and challenged with eicosanoids or other prolactin (PRL) secretagogues. The isolated pituitary cells from estradiol-pretreated animals exhibited an increase in the ability to secrete PRL in the presence of maximally effective concentrations of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), arachidonic acid or 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (5,6-EET). Anterior pituitary cells from estradiol-pretreated animals also showed an increased activity of cytochrome P-450. The possible involvement of cytochrome P-450 in PRL secretion from anterior pituitary animal cells isolated from animals pretreated with estradiol was shown by the fact that these anterior pituitary cells increased the synthesis of 5,6-EET, a potent PRL releasing agent. TRH and 5,6-EET increased the mobilization of both cyclic AMP and cytoplasmic calcium to about the same extent. The data suggest that cytochrome P-450 is important in the release of PRL from anterior pituitary cells isolated from estradiol-pretreated Fischer 344 rats and that a product of cytochrome P-450-catalyzed epoxidation of arachidonic acid, 5,6-EET, plays a significant role in the release of PRL.