Diacylglycerol lipase and pituitary prolactin release in vitro: studies employing RHC 80267

We studied the possible involvement of diacylglycerol lipase in the regulatory mechanisms governing the release of prolactin by primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells. This was accomplished by studying the effect of a selective inhibitor of diacylglycerol lipase activity, RHC 80267, on basal prolactin release and that stimulated by TRH and elevated potassium concentrations. RHC 80267 produced a concentration-dependent reduction in basal prolactin release and abolished its increase produced by TRH and potassium. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the production of arachidonate from lipids via the diacylglycerol lipase pathway is an important event in the governance of prolactin release.