Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulates prolactin mRNA expression in turkey pituitary cells: effects of dopaminergic drugs.

It is well documented that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a prolactin (PRL)-releasing factor and that dopamine (DA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in avian species. However, the roles of VIP and DA in the regulation of PRL gene expression are unclear. In this study, primary anterior pituitary cells cultured from laying turkeys were utilized to investigate the influence of VIP and dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors on PRL secretion, PRL mRNA, and PRL synthesis. Incubation of pituitary cells with VIP increased PRL secretion up to 3.5-fold within 3 hr. Prolactin mRNA was undetectable during the first 2 hr of pituitary cell treatment; thereafter, the PRL mRNA content response to VIP increased with 24-48 h (P < 0.05). Total PRL content (media + cellular) increased over time in the presence of VIP. The response of cells incubated in the presence of a dopaminergic D1 receptor agonist (SKF38393) was variable and inconclusive. However, cells incubated with a dopaminergic D2 receptor agonist (quinpirole) inhibited VIP-induced PRL secretion (P < 0.05) and PRL mRNA levels (P < 0.05) in a dose-related fashion without effect on the basal levels of PRL release and PRL mRNA. These observations suggest that VIP, in addition to acting as a PRL-releasing peptide, also plays a role in the regulation of PRL gene expression. Moreover, the results of this study also indicate that a drug that can selectively stimulate dopamine D2 receptors can also regulate PRL secretion and PRL mRNA in turkey pituitary cells in culture.