Activation of Go-coupled dopamine D2 receptors inhibits ERK1/ERK2 in pituitary cells. A key step in the transcriptional suppression of the prolactin gene.

In pituitary lactotrophs the prolactin gene is stimulated by neuropeptides and estrogen and is suppressed by dopamine via D2-type receptors. Stimulatory signals converge on activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1/2, but dopamine regulation of this pathway is not well defined. Paradoxically, D2 agonists activate ERK1/2 in many cell types. Here we show that in prolactin-secreting GH4ZR7 cells and primary pituitary cells, dopamine treatment leads to a rapid, pronounced, and specific decrease in activated ERK1/2. The response is blocked by D2-specific antagonists and pertussis toxin. Interestingly, in stable lines expressing specific pertussis toxin-resistant Galpha subunits, toxin treatment blocks dopamine suppression of MAPK in Galpha(i2)- but not Galphao-expressing cells, demonstrating that G(o)-dependent pathways can effect the inhibitory MAPK response. At the nuclear level, the MEK1 inhibitor U0126 mimics the D2-agonist bromocryptine in suppressing levels of endogenous prolactin transcripts. Moreover, a good correlation is seen between the IC(50) values for inhibition of MEK1 and suppression of prolactin promoter function (PD184352 > U0126 > U0125). Both dopamine and U0126 enhance the nuclear localization of ERF, a MAPK-sensitive ETS repressor that inhibits prolactin promoter activity. In addition, U0126 suppression is transferred by tandem copies of the Pit-1-binding site, consistent with mapping experiments for dopamine responsiveness. Our data suggest that ERK1/2 suppression is an obligatory step in the dopaminergic control of prolactin gene transcription and that bidirectional control of ERK1/2 function in the pituitary may provide a key mechanism for endocrine gene control.