Lactation increases prolactin receptor expression in spleen and thymus of rats

Prolactin receptors (PRL-R) are widely expressed on cells of the immune system. During lactation, the increase in serum PRL levels may modify the gene expression of these receptors. Specific PRL binding sites and the expressions of both PRL-R-L and PRL-R-S forms in thymus and spleen of nulliparous control, 10-day postpartum lactating, and 10-day postpartum nonlactating rats were studied. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique was used to detect the PRL-R gene transcript in the tissues. Our results showed that specific PRL binding sites and PRL-R-L mRNA and PRL-R-S mRNA were present in the lymphoid tissues with the PRL-R-L mRNA predominant. Lactation markedly increased specific binding sites and PRL-R-L mRNA in both spleen and thymus and only PRL-R-S in spleen. No differences between nulliparous control and postpartum nonlactating rats were observed in any of the parameters measured. The parallel increase in specific PRL binding sites and PRL-R-L mRNA suggests that lactation up-regulates PRL-R expression in lymphoid tissues and may be beneficial to the maternal immune system.