Hypothalamic regulation of mating-induced prolactin release. Effect of electrical stimulation of the medial preoptic area in conscious female rats.

Lesions of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) induce nocturnal prolactin surges similar to those initiated by cervical stimulation (CS). These same lesions can abolish diurnal prolactin surges previously initiated by CS. Based on these results the MPOA has been suggested to contain two functionally dissimilar sets of neurons, one inhibitory for the nocturnal surge and the other stimulatory for the diurnal surge. The present study sought to demonstrate the existence of these neural elements by electrically stimulating the MPOA of conscious ovariectomized female rats during those times of day when these neurons would be most active. Serial blood samples were collected via cannula before, during and after the stimulation. Stimulation of the MPOA (01.00-05.00 h) on day 2 after CS inhibited the nocturnal surge of prolactin while sham MPOA stimulation of CS females did not disturb the nocturnal surge. MPOA stimulation in non-CS females had no effect upon prolactin secretion. Application of MPOA stimulation (15.00-19.00 h) to CS females also suppressed the diurnal surge of prolactin. Sham-stimulated CS females, however, secreted a diurnal surge peaking at 17.00 h. Basal prolactin levels were unaffected by MPOA stimulation (15.00-19.00 h) in non-CS females. The results from these experiments suggest that the MPOA contains neurons inhibitory for both the nocturnal and diurnal prolactin surges. In a further attempt to show a stimulatory role for the MPOA in prolactin regulation, MPOA stimulation was applied (15.00-19.00 h) to pentobarbital anesthetized non-CS females. Pentobarbital treatment allowed the MPOA stimulation to trigger two prolactin peaks, one at 16.00 h and the other at 19.00 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)