Effect of catechol estrogens on prolactin secretion in the rat: lack of correlation with estrogenic activity

Temporal changes in plasma prolactin (PRL) levels caused by the administration of a number of different catechol estrogens to freely-moving conscious male rats were determined. The steroids with a wide range of affinity for the estrogen receptor were given in a single bolus (100 micrograms/kg) into the right atrium via an indwelling cannula. Plasma PRL concentration was monitored by taking blood samples every 2 min. The effect on PRL secretion was found to be more pronounced when the catechol estrogens were administered to rats bearing implants of estradiol and could not be correlated with their Kd values for the estrogen receptor. The synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol, behaved anomalously by producing an elevation in plasma PRL only in estradiol-primed animals or after prolonged infusion. Diethylstilbestrol-treated rats showed no PRL response to 2-hydroxyestrone unlike those bearing Silastic capsules of estradiol. The experiments support the hypothesis that catechol estrogens generally act as short-term dopamine agonists, lowering PRL, but that those which possess estrogenic activity also show a more prolonged PRL-elevating effect. Thus, the overall action of this group of steroids will be determined by factors which influence these two parameters.