Synthesis and release of glycosylated prolactin by human decidua in vitro

To determine whether human decidual tissue synthesizes and secretes a glycosylated form of PRL (G-hPRL), explants of decidua obtained after normal term delivery were cultured for up to 5 days. During each day of incubation, the decidual explants incorporated [3H]mannose and [3H]glucosamine into immunoprecipitable G-hPRL. The explants released 33-50% less G-hPRL than hPRL. The release of decidual G-hPRL was unaffected by treatment with TRH (10(-4)-10(-8) M) or dopamine (10(-5)-10(-9) M) during a 4-h incubation period. G-hPRL also was sought in samples of amniotic fluid. Glycosylated hPRL was detected in all amniotic fluid samples from normal pregnant women at 32-40 weeks of gestation. These results indicate that human decidual explants in vitro may be used as a model system to study the secretion of G-hPRL and its regulation during pregnancy.