Regulation of prolactin transformation in the rat pituitary

We have investigated the mechanisms involved in the inhibition by dopamine of the transformation of prolactin within the anterior pituitary of the lactating rat. The degree of inhibition depends on the intracellular age of prolactin, being greater in newly synthesized (<1 hour) and in older (>12 hours since biosynthesis) hormone and lesser in prolactin synthesized 4-8 hours earlier. Transformation occurs in prolactin granules and involves an increase in oligomeric forms of prolactin at the expense of the monomeric form. A reversible disulphide-linked mechanism may be involved in dopamine inhibition of prolactin transformation; it is dependent upon the intracellular and/or intragranular pH via a Na+/H+ exchange mechanism. Transient suppression of dopamine inhibition may lower the intracellular/intragranular pH and subsequently cause transformation of the hormone. Developmentally, dopamine secretion by tuberoinfundibular neurons is seriously impaired and the response of pituitary lactotrophs to dopamine is reduced in adult rats deprived of milk prolactin during Days 2-5 post partum. These results suggest milk prolactin ingested during a critical post partum period may exert an organizational effect upon dopamine secretion and its function on the pituitary lactotroph during adulthood.