PROLACTIN MEDIATES ESTRADIOL-INDUCED INFLAMMATION IN THE LATERAL PROSTATE OF WISTAR RATS

Inflammation was induced in the lateral prostate of castrated Wistar r ats by exposure to a sc implant of estradiol-filled Silastic tubing, f ollowed by the addition of a dihydrotestosterone implant to restore pr ostatic wet weight. The presence of inflammation was correlated with i ncreased serum PRL, elevated pituitary weight, and a greater than 2-fo ld increase in the lateral prostate DNA concentration. The administrat ion of bromocryptine (4 mg/kg . day) to these animals was effective in suppressing pituitary weight and hyperprolactinemia and mitigated the lateral prostate inflammatory response. Inflammation was restored in the bromocryptine-treated hormone-implanted rats by administering exog enous ovine PRL at a dose of 2 mg/kg twice a day. The results indicate that estradiol-induced inflammation in the rat lateral prostate is me diated at least in part by the release of PRL from the pituitary.