Concentrations of Glycosylated Prolactin in the Pituitary Gland and Plasma of Lean and Obese Barrows

Y. N. Sinha; H. G. Klemcke; B. P. Jacobsen; J. T. Yen

doi:10.1055/s-2007-1009312

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 1989; 21(12): 652-657
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1009312

Originals Basic

Concentrations of Glycosylated Prolactin in the Pituitary Gland and Plasma of Lean and Obese Barrows

Y. N. Sinha¹ , H. G. Klemcke² , B. P. Jacobsen¹ , J. T. Yen²

¹Whittier Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California, U. S. A.
²U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, U. S. A.

Abstract

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Summary

We measured glycosylated PRL (G-PRL) in the pituitary gland and plasma of lean and obese barrows (castrated male pigs) by immunoblotting. We found that G-PRL constituted 40% or more of total monomeric PRL in the pituitary gland of these animals. Furthermore, pituitary G-PRL concentrations in obese barrows averaged 58% higher than in those of lean controls. The non-glycosylated PRL concentrations were also higher in the pituitaries of obese barrows in comparison to lean controls, but the magnitude of the difference was smaller (42%). Plasma concentrations of the two forms, or total immunoreactive PRL measurable by radioimmunoassay, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The pituitary data suggest that the state of PRL secretion is altered in obese barrows, and that the alteration is more pronounced for G-PRL than for the non-glycosylated counterpart.

Key-Words

Prolactin - Glycosylated Prolactin - Pituitary Gland - Obesity - Pigs - Immunoblotting

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