Effects of protein kinase A inhibitor (H-89) on VIP- and GRF-induced release and mRNA expression of prolactin and growth hormone in the chicken pituitary gland.

Vasoactive intestine polypeptide (VIP) and growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) stimulated an increase of cAMP accumulation with a concomitant release of PRL and GH, respectively. Release of PRL induced by VIP was partially suppressed by 5 and 25 microM of H-89, whereas VIP-induced gene expression of PRL was inhibited by all concentrations of H-89. Release and gene expression of GH induced by GRF was inhibited by H-89 in a dose-dependent manner and completely blocked by 25 microM of H-89. These results indicate that VIP-induced PRL release and gene expression may be mediated, at least in a part, by cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway, whereas GRF-induced GH release and gene expression may be mediated predominantly by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.