Pituitary PRL secretion induced by tetraethylammonium is inhibited by dopamine through D2 receptors

We have evaluated the inhibitory effect of dopamine on PRL secretion induced by blocking K+ channels. Tumor-derived GH4C1 cells and collagenase-dispersed normal anterior pituitary (AP) cells from young adult male rats were perifused with Krebs-Ringer Hepes medium. In both cell types blocking K+ channels with tetraethylammonium (TEA) induced PRL secretion but did not stimulate cyclic AMP generation. Blocking Na+ channels with 1 microM tetrodotoxin had no effect on basal or TEA-induced PRL secretion. Dopamine inhibited the TEA-induced rise in [Ca2+]i in GH4C1 cells expressing dopamine D2 short receptors. In normal AP cells, 1-100 nM dopamine blocked PRL secretion induced by 20 mM TEA in a log-linear concentration-dependent fashion, with a plateau at > 100 nM dopamine (IC50 30 nM). The D2 dopaminergic receptor agonist, quinpirole, at 100 nM completely blocked PRL secretion induced by 20 mM TEA. The D2 dopaminergic receptor antagonist, sulpiride, at 10 microM reversed the inhibitory effect of 10 microM dopamine on PRL secretion induced by 20 mM TEA. Pretreatment of cells with 100 ng/ml pertussis toxin (PTX) for 24 h prevented 100 nM dopamine inhibition of PRL secretion induced by 20 mM TEA. The data indicate that in both normal lactotroph cells and in tumor-derived cells expressing D2 receptors, PRL secretion stimulated by blocking K+ channels is inhibited by dopamine binding to D2 receptors on the plasma membrane. This inhibition involves interaction with PTX-sensitive Gi protein.