Biological activities of mammalian and teleostean prolactins and growth hormones on mouse mammary gland and teleost urinary bladder

Isolation of prolactin gene and its differential expression during metamorphosis involving eye migration of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Eye migration during flatfish metamorphosis is driven by asymmetrical cell proliferation. To figure out Prolactin (PRL) function in this process, the full-length cDNA of prl was cloned from Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in our study. The deduced PRL protein shares highly conserved sequence with other teleosts, but has several amino acids loss compared with higher vertebrates, including amphibians, reptiles, avian and mammals. Spatio-temporal expression of prl gene displayed its extensive expression in the early development stages, while the limited expression of prl was observed in the pituitary, brain, and intestine of adult fish. In situ hybridization showed the asymmetrical distribution patterns of prl gene around the eyes during metamorphosis, which was coincident with the cell proliferation signals. Colchicine inhibited cell proliferation and reduced the prl gene expression, which indicates that PRL was involved in cell proliferation in the suborbital area of the migrating eye. The treatment of methimazole and 9-cis-retinoic acid respectively led to a reduction in the number of proliferating cells and the downregulation of prl expression, suggesting PRL was regulated by thyroid hormone signaling pathway and retinoic acid related signaling pathways. The results gave us a basic understanding of PRL function during flatfish metamorphosis.

Fish as model systems

Fish represent the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates. Their evolutionary position relative to other vertebrates and their ability to adapt to a wide variety of environments make them ideal for studying both organismic and molecular evolution. A number of other characteristics make them excellent experimental models for studies in embryology, neurobiology, endocrinology, environmental biology, and other areas. In fact, they have played a critical role in the development of several of these disciplines. Research techniques that enable scientists to make isogenic lines in a single generation, create and maintain mutants, culture cells, and transfer cloned genes into embryos signal an increasing role for fish as experimental models.

Partial purification and characterization of bovine mammary gland prolactin receptor

Prolactin (PRL) receptors from the mammary gland of the lactating cow were solubilized with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamonio]-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS). Affinite chromatography on human growth hormone (hGH) coupled to Affi-Gel 10 resulted in over 500-fold purification, as compared to microsomal fractions. Scatchard analysis of the binding of hGH indicated an increase in the affinity constant of 2.5-fold after solubilization and of further 2-fold after the affinity purification. The specific binding activity of the affinity-purified fraction was 9000 fmol hGH/mg protein. Complexes of Triton X-100-solubilized receptors with [125I]hGH were analyzed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-150, in the presence of Triton X-100. A minor fraction of the complexes eluted as high molecular weight (Mr) aggregates, whereas a major fraction eluted as a 150 kDa peak. Assuming a contribution of approximately 30% to the Mr by the bound detergent and a hormone: receptor ratio of 1:1 in the complex, a Mr of 80-85 kDa can be calculated for the receptor molecule. Affinity labelling of the receptor with [125I]hGH revealed a Mr of 37 +/- 0.5 kDa (n = 7) for the binding subunit. Specific high Mr aggregates were also observed after crosslinking; however, the size of the labelled species was not affected by reducing agents. Homologous and heterologous competitive binding studies with ovine PRL (oPRL) or hGH revealed a considerably higher affinity for hGH as compared to oPRL. The competitive displacement patterns obtained with oPRL or hGH as tracers were similar, indicating that both hormones bound to the same receptor sites with different affinities. A similar difference in affinity was retained by the affinity-purified receptors.

Steroidogenic capacity of coho salmon ovarian follicles throughout the periovulatory period

Coho salmon follicles obtained at various times throughout the periovulatory period were incubatedin vitro with graded amounts of partially purified salmon gonadotropin (SG-G100) for 24 h and the amounts of 17β-estradiol, testosterone and 17α20β dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17α20βP) released into the media determined by radioimmunoassay. By this approach, the pattern of steroid secretion by ovarian follicles was shown to change in relation to the developmental status of the oocyte. Full-grown immature follicles produced large amounts of 17β-estradiol but negligible amounts of testosterone and 17α20βP. Both basal and gonadotropin-stimulated 17β-estradiol production was subsequently reduced with advancing oocyte development. In contrast, the production of testosterone and 17α20βP increased during the course of ovarian development with testosterone production highest in follicles with a peripheral germinal vesicle and 17α20βP production highest in matured and postovulatory follicles. These data are discussed in relation to information on the preovulatory changes in circulating levels of steriod hormones in salmonids.

Development and validation of a salmon growth hormone radioimmunoassay

A highly specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of plasma and pituitary growth hormone (GH) levels in salmonid fishes was developed using an anti-serum raised in rabbit against chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) GH (sGH). Pituitary extracts and plasma from chum, coho, masu, and amago salmon, and from rainbow trout and Japanese charr, all exhibited displacement curves parallel to the sGH standard. Samples from the eel, carp, goldfish, and tilapia, as well as plasma from hypophysectomized chum salmon and rainbow trout, all showed negligible cross-reactivity. None of the mammalian or teleostean GH or prolactin preparations tested cross-reacted with the antibody in the assay system. RIA sensitivity was 0.6 ng sGH/ml of plasma when 100 microliter of plasma was employed. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 3.9 and 4.1%, respectively. Plasma GH levels of the mature chum salmon caught in Otsuchi Bay were highly variable, especially in females (20.2 +/- 8.2 ng/ml) as compared with males (16.0 +/- 1.1 ng/ml), and there was no significant change after transfer to fresh water. Whereas there was no change in plasma GH levels in males kept in seawater, the levels in females increased with time in close correlation with the increase in plasma chloride.

Involvement of lysine residues in the binding of ovine prolactin and human growth hormone to lactogenic receptors

The lactogenic activity (L.A.) of oPRL and hGH derivatives obtained by chemical modifications of lysine residues was studied by radioreceptor assay. Control treatment with borohydride had a slight effect on the L.A. of hGH but drastically reduced the oPRL activity; this latter was preserved in the presence of iodoacetamide. Methylation, ethylation, guanidination and acetimidination affected the L.A. of both hormones as a function of the degree of modification. The structure-binding relationships to the lactogenic receptors are discussed, suggesting that the lysine or arginine residues in homologous positions 42, 51, 73, 128, 146 of oPRL and 47, 50, 73, 128, 147 of hGH might be particularly involved.

Development and validation of a salmon prolactin radioimmunoassay

A highly specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of prolactin (PRL) in the plasma and pituitary of salmonid fishes was developed using a rabbit antiserum to chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) PRL. The PRLs purified from chinook salmon and chum salmon (O. keta) pituitaries showed exactly the same competitive inhibition curves in the RIA, regardless of iodination of either hormone. The displacement curves for pituitary extracts and plasma from several salmonids, including chum, coho, and amago salmon, rainbow trout, and Japanese charr, were parallel to the salmon PRL standard, whereas those from the eel, goldfish, carp, and tilapia showed negligible cross-reactivity. Negligible cross-reactivity was also seen with plasma from hypophysectomized rainbow trout or coho salmon. None of the mammalian PRL or growth hormone (GH) preparations, bullfrog PRL, or presumptive chum salmon "gonadotropin" and eel "PRL" cross-reacted in the PRL RIA. Presumptive chum salmon GH showed less than 0.05% cross-reactivity. The RIA sensitivity was less than 0.1 ng of the salmon PRL standard per milliliter. The immunoreactive plasma PRL levels in mature chum salmon were below 1 ng/ml in seawater. The plasma PRL in females increased to about 8 ng/ml 1 day after transfer to fresh water, and high levels (2-4 ng/ml) were maintained during 3-7 days after the transfer. In contrast, when males were transferred to fresh water, an increase in plasma PRL was seen only 1 day after the transfer. A significant decrease in plasma osmolality was observed in both males and females after transfer to fresh water. No change was observed either in plasma PRL or osmolality, when fish were transferred from seawater to seawater.

Sensitivity and specificity of salamandrid integumental transepithelial potential to prolactin

The effects of ovine prolactin (oPRL), bovine growth hormone (bGH) and human placental lactogen (hPL) on in vivo integumental transepithelial potential (TEP) were examined in two salamandrid urodeles, adult terrestrial-phase Taricha granulosa and the juvenile red-eft stage of Notophthalmus viridescens. TEP in efts treated with 1.0 microgram oPRL/2 days fell from 73.3 +/- 6.1 to 15.2 +/- 5.5 mV by Day 7 (P less than 0.001), whereas the TEP of efts treated with either 1.0 or 10 micrograms bGH/2 days remained at control levels for as long as 24 days. TEP in efts treated with a single dose of 10 micrograms oPRL dropped from 65.74 +/- 4.1 to 23.0 +/- 3.4 mV (P less than 0.01) in 3 days. Efts treated with various doses of oPRL showed a linear log total dose response over the range of 0.05 to 10.0 micrograms oPRL/animal, with a minimum detectable total dose of 0.4 micrograms/g (0.01 IU/g). In the same experiments, tail height increased by Day 7 in efts treated every other day with 10.0 micrograms oPRL, but not 1.0 microgram oPRL or either 1.0 or 10.0 micrograms bGH/2 days. In Oregon newts injected every other day with 10 micrograms oPRL, TEP decreased by 33% in 8 days (P less than 0.05), whereas in animals treated with 10 micrograms bGH/2 days, TEP did not change from control values even after 23 days. TEP in Oregon newts receiving a single dose of 100 micrograms oPRL dropped to 68% of initial values within 2 days (P less than 0.05), but subsequently recovered to control values 3 weeks after the last injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Specific binding sites for ovine prolactin in three amphibian cell lines

Established cell lines (TB-6c and TB-M) obtained by continuous culture of epithelial cells from toad Bufo marinus urinary bladder, which, in culture, maintained a high degree of functional differentiation, exhibited a significant number of high-affinity (KA = 1-2 X 10(10) M-1) binding sites detected both with radioiodinated (125I) ovine prolactin (oPRL) and human growth hormone (hGH). Binding capacity was higher in the case of TB-6c cells (7,573 +/- 581 sites/cell) than with the TB-M cells (1,160 +/- 87). Similarly, binding sites for oPRL were characterized on Xenopus laevis kidney-derived cell line A6. With oPRL used both as tracer and standard, significant cross-reaction was observed with hGH, less with human or rat prolactin (PRL), and none with human chorionic somatomammotropin, bovine growth hormone, and rat luteinizing hormone or follicle-stimulating hormones. B. marinus pituitary extracts completely displaced the binding of 125I-oPRL to toad bladder binding sites. This finding of specific sites for PRL on amphibian bladder and kidney cells confirms that PRL exerts specific biological actions for the control of electrolyte and water metabolism in the amphibians.

Purification and biological characterization of chinook salmon prolactin

Prolactin from chinook salmon pituitaries was purified by acid acetone extraction, saline precipitation, chromatofocusing, and gel filtration. This procedure allowed us to recover highly purified prolactin as demonstrated by the presence of a single NH2-terminal amino acid and a single band in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Chinook salmon prolactin appeared to be a basic protein of 22,500 molecular weight. Throughout the purification, prolactin bioactivity was followed by radioreceptor assay for lactogenic hormones. The prolactin character of the purified protein was established by its lactogenic activity in the rabbit mammary gland in vitro and its sodium-retaining activity in hypophysectomized Fundulus heteroclitus.

Human growth hormone but not ovine or bovine growth hormones exhibits galactopoietic prolactin-like activity in organ culture from bovine lactating mammary gland

Explants from the mammary gland of 6 lactating cows were cultured in M-199 medium containing insulin (1.0 micrograms/ml) and hydrocortisone (0.5 micrograms/ml) and supplemented with bPRL (0.2-1.0 micrograms/ml) or oGH (0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 micrograms/ml) or bGH or hGH (0.2 and 1.0 micrograms/ml). It was found that neither oGH nor bGH significantly increased (P less than 0.05) the casein and fat synthesis and alpha-lactalbumin secretion above the control level. A significant and almost equal increase was, however, observed in the presence of bPRL and hGH, but was not influenced by the simultaneous addition of oGH to bPRL-containing medium (both at 0.5 micrograms/ml). Various hormonal treatments did not affect casein secretion and glucose uptake. High correlations (r = 0.89-0.97) were found between the mean values for casein and fat synthesis and alpha-lactalbumin secretion. Our results suggest that (a) the in vivo galactopoietic activity of bGH does not result from a direct effect of synthetic capacities on the mammary gland, and (b) hGH is a potent lactogen in the organ culture of bovine lactating mammary tissue.

Development and validation of a carp growth hormone radioimmunoassay

Purified growth hormone (GH), isolated from pituitary glands of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), was shown to have biochemical and immunological properties in common with other teleost GH preparations. Intraperitoneal injections of the carp GH, at a dose of 1 microgram/g body wt, resulted in significant increases in body weight in goldfish. In addition, the carp GH was used to prepare an antiserum for the development of a radioimmunoassay (RIA). The displacement curves for serum from goldfish with an intact pituitary gland were parallel to that of the purified cGH in this RIA. In contrast, serial dilutions of serum from hypophysectomized goldfish, and purified goldfish prolactin and carp gonadotropin did not have significant cross reaction. The present study strongly suggests that this RIA is suitable for the measurement of circulating GH levels in the goldfish.

Membrane modification differentially affects the binding of the lactogenic hormones human growth hormone and ovine prolactin

Human growth hormone (hGH) and ovine prolactin (oPRL) are both lactogenic as defined by their ability to induce milk-protein synthesis in vitro in the presence of insulin and hydrocortisone. At physiological concentrations, both hGH and oPRL have similar dose-response curves in a mouse mammary gland organ culture system. Binding of 125I-labeled hGH (125I-hGH) to lactogenic receptors is competed by both hGH and oPRL, and the competition curves are nearly superimposable. Moreover, solubilized membrane proteins bound with either 125I-hGH or 125I-labeled oPRL (125I-oPRL) show the same sedimentation pattern on sucrose gradients. However, methylation of membrane phospholipids in the presence of the methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine only increases the binding of 125I-hGH. Binding of either 125I-oPRL or 125I-labeled bovine growth hormone (125I-bGH) was unaffected. Addition of concanavalin A (Con A) to the membranes decreased binding of 125I-oPRL to the lactogenic site by 80%, whereas 125I-hGH binding was decreased by only 40%, with the binding of 125I-bGH unaffected. However, both hGH-and oPRL-bound proteins bind to Con A-Sepharose columns to the same extent. These results suggest that although hGH and oPRL bind to the same lactogenic site with similar affinities and elicit similar biological responses, modification of membranes either by phospholipid methylation or by Con A differentially affects the binding of these two hormones.

The lactogenic response of mouse mammary explants to mose prolactin and growth hormone

The lactogenic response of mouse mammary explants to mouse prolactin (mPRL) and mouse growth hormone (mGH) was studied. Mouse mammary explants were cultured, in a defined medium, in the presence of varying concentrations of either mPRL or mGH and the rate of 3H amino acid incorporation into casein was measured. The lactogenic activity of mPRL was compared with that of ovine prolactin (oPRL) and found to be directly comparable. MGH, when compared to oPRL, was found to be less active in stimulating casein synthesis.

Lactogenic response of mouse mammary explants from different days of pregnancy to placental lactogen and pituitary prolactin

The lactogenic response of mouse mammary gland explants to human placental lactogen (hPL) and ovine pituitary prolactin (oPRL) was examined on days 10 to 18 of pregnancy by measuring 3H-amino acid incorporation into calcium-rennin precipitable casein. To determine the lactogenic response of the explants, the mean slopes of dose-response curves were calculated for each hormone treatment. Slope means of dose-response curves for oPRL and hPL did not differ from each other on any day of pregnancy examined. A triphasic pattern of response was suggested when slope means of dose-response curves for both hormones were plotted as a function of day of gestation. Peak responses were observed on days 10, 13 and 17-18. Combinations of oPRL and hPL, in ratios of oPRL:hPL = 2:1 and oPRL:hPL = 1:2, also produced a triphasic pattern of sensitivity very similar to that produced by either hormone alone. These results suggest that mouse mammary explants may be more sensitive to oPRL and hPL on days 10, 13 and 17-18 of pregnancy.

Effect of polypeptide hormones on stimulation of casein secretion by mouse mammary epithelial cells grown on floating collagen gels

The in vitro effects of protein hormones on the stimulation of casein secretion by mouse mammary epithelial cells were studied. Mouse mammary glands were enzymatically dissociated and used immediately or were stored frozen and thawed just before use. Cells were cultured on floating collagen gels in the presence of insulin, cortisol and a pituitary or placental polypeptide hormone. Casein, released into the medium, was assayed by a radioimmunoassay against one of the components of mouse casein. Mammary cells released casein into the medium in the presence of as little as 10 ng of ovine prolactin per ml of medium. Human growth hormone stimulated the casein secretion to the same extent as prolactin. Human placental lactogen, ovine and bovine growth hormones were less stimulatory. Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone had no effect on the stimulation of casein secretion.