[en] Purification of human prolactin from pituitaries was carried out in our laboratory to obtain a pure reagent for use in RIA. The extraction and purification procedure was adapted from the method of Mc. Lean et al., and it involves the following steps: 1. Extraction of frozen pituitaries in buffers 0.14M phosphate/citrate pH 4.0 and 0.05M ammonium acetate pH 10.0. 2. Purification by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B in the presence of acetonitrile. 3. Purification by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose Cl-68. The purification method is considered effective for obtaining a hPrl of the purity needed for radioassay purposes, having the advantage of rapidity and relative simplicity. (author)

No abstract available

[en] Is a review is presented of the main clinical uses of prolactin measurements, including the galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome, an experiment employing the prolactin radioimmunoassay is related. (Author)

[en] Highlights: • A modified Ussing chamber was used to apply physiological pressure on HC11 cells. • Pressure was applied to simulate accumulation of milk in the mammary gland. • Dependence of differentiation state and transcellular transport was observed. • Effects on barrier function were attributed to tight junction protein expression. During lactation, accumulation of milk in mammary glands (MG) causes hydrostatic pressure (HP) and concentration of bioactive compounds. Previously, a changed expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins was observed in mice MGs by accumulation of milk, in vivo. The TJ primarily determines the integrity of the MG epithelium. The present study questioned whether HP alone can affect the TJ in a mammary epithelial cell model, in vitro. Therefore, monolayers of HC11, a mammary epithelial cell line, were mounted into modified Ussing chambers and incubated with 10 kPa bilateral HP for 4 h. Short circuit current and transepithelial resistance were recorded and compared to controls, and TJ proteins were analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. In our first approach HC11 cells could withstand the pressure incubation and a downregulation of occludin was observed. In a second approach, using prolactin- and dexamethasone-induced cells, a decrease of short circuit current was observed, beginning after 2 h of incubation. With the addition of 1 mM barium chloride to the bathing solution the decrease could be blocked temporarily. On molecular level an upregulation of ZO-1 could be observed in hormone-induced cells, which was downregulated after the incubation with barium chloride. In conclusion, bilateral HP incubation affects mammary epithelial monolayers, in vitro. Both, the reduction of short circuit current and the change in TJ proteins may be interpreted as physiological requirements for lactation.

[en] Domperidone, anti-emetic drug, given to healthy female volunteers, induced and elevation of plasma prolactin (PRI) concentration with the peak in 1-4 h. The release of prolactin had a transient stimulating effect on theophylline sensitive T lymphocytes and on concanavalin A induced mitogenic activity, suggesting an enhanced activity of T suppressor lymphocytes. The relative number of CD4⁺ lymphocytes decreased markedly one hour after domperidone administration and returned to normal values within 2 h (that means 3 h after taking the drug). The number of lymphocytes positive for dipeptidyl peptidase IV exhibited similar transient increase and normalization of activity. No change was observed in the number of CD8⁺ lymphocytes. The production of interferon by leukocytes treated with Newcastle disease virus was found to be significantly increased 2 h after domperidone administration. The results suggest that prolactin can selectively stimulate some functions of cellular immunity as well as the release of cytokines (IFN). The present study may contribute to the understanding of the role of the immune system in endogenous hyperprolactinemia. (author). 20 refs, 4 figs, 3 tabs

[en] Based on both selection of suitable substances for setting up and critical considerations of the developed heterologous and homologous prolactin radioimmunoassays the reference ranges of prolactin serum levels for healthy women and men were estimated and compared with those of some other PRL-RIA-kits. (author)

No abstract available

[en] The recent development of radio-immunoassay of prolactin has permitted, in recent years, better understanding of its role in hormone regulation. In man, the secretion of prolactin is submitted to physiological variations dependent on sex, age and also environment. It is also modified by numerous drugs. Certain of them are used during stimulation tests and inhibition tests of the pituitary gland. The determination of basic prolactinemia and during dynamic tests is now a factor in basis diagnosis for the clinician who now has available efficacious chemotherapy (derived from rye ergot) in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia

[en] Published in summary form only

No abstract available