Prolactin receptor localization to the area postrema

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 836; no. 1; pp. 218 - 220
• Main Authors: Mangurian, Luz P., Jurjus, Abdo R., Walsh, Raymond J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 31.07.1999; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Animals; Area postrema; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral circulation. Blood-brain barrier. Choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid. Circumventricular organ. Meninges; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Luteinizing Hormone - metabolism; Male; Medulla Oblongata - chemistry; Medulla Oblongata - cytology; Neurons - chemistry; Prolactin; Prolactin - metabolism; Rabbit; Rabbits; Receptor; Receptors, Prolactin - analysis; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Rabbit; Area postrema; Prolactin; Receptor; Ependymal organ; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Central nervous system; Lagomorpha; Localization; Brain (vertebrata); Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-8993(99)01655-8

The area postrema, which lacks a blood–brain barrier, was examined for the presence of prolactin receptors, which would render it a potential site for vascular prolactin to directly interact with neuronal elements. Using an in vitro autoradiographic technique, frozen sections of New Zealand white rabbit medulla were incubated with radiolabelled ovine prolactin alone (total binding) or radiolabelled ovine prolactin in the presence of excess unlabelled ovine prolactin (non-specific binding). The specificity of the binding was also assessed using excess unlabelled human prolactin or ovine LH. While excess unlabelled ovine and human prolactin caused a statistically significant reduction in radio labeled prolactin binding, unlabelled LH was without effect. Results reveal the presence of specific prolactin binding sites within the area postrema, a previously unknown prolactin target area of the CNS.