L. Tangbanluekal et Cl. Robinette, PROLACTIN MEDIATES ESTRADIOL-INDUCED INFLAMMATION IN THE LATERAL PROSTATE OF WISTAR RATS, Endocrinology, 132(6), 1993, pp. 2407-2416
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.