Pertussis toxin uncouples dopamine agonist inhibition of prolactin release

Pertussis toxin, a protein exotoxin produced by Bordetella pertussis, markedly reduced or eliminated the ability of dopamine or the dopamine agonist bromocriptine to inhibit prolactin release from anterior pituitary cells in vitro. Toxin-mediated reversal of the effect on dopamine agonist inhibition of prolactin release occurred with a lag of greater than 6 h, was maximal by 24 h, and persisted for at least 6 days after removal of the toxin from the medium. The toxin reduced dopamine agonist efficacy without altering potency or directly modifying the dopamine receptor (as measured by [3H]spiperone binding). The ability of dopamine to reduce cellular cyclic AMP content was also antagonized by pertussis toxin, supporting the hypothesis that reduction of cellular cyclic AMP content and inhibition of prolactin secretion may be causally related. These data demonstrated that pertussis toxin can prevent the typical inhibitory action of dopamine agonists on anterior pituitary prolactin release and suggest that this receptor-mediated inhibitory hormone system is analogous to other inhibitory receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase.