Evaluation of the role for prolactin-releasing peptide in prolactin secretion induced by ether stress and suckling in the rat: comparison with vasoactive intestinal peptide

Prolactin (PRL)-releasing peptide (PrRP) is a recently discovered hypothala mic peptide possessing a specific stimulatory action on PRL secretion. In t his study, we examined whether PrRP plays a role in mediating ether stress- and suckling-induced PRL secretion in rats through administering anti-PrRP antisera intracerebroventricularly. For comparison, we also tested the eff ect of anti-vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) antisera on the hormonal re sponses, since VIP is another candidate for a physiological PRL-releasing f actor. The immunoneutralization of VIP, but not of PrRP, led to a significa nt suppression of PRL responses to both ether and suckling. These results s uggest that PrRP may not play a significant role, or at least play a much w eaker role than VIP, in mediating PRL release induced by ether stress and s uckling in the rat. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.