Correlation between suckling-induced changes in the ultrastructure of mammotrophs and prolactin release

Abstract

Effects of suckling on the structure of mammotrophs and the release of prolactin, were studied in rats on the 10th day of lactation with the use of electron microscopy and radioimmunoassay techniques. Nursing animals were separated from their young for 8 hr and subsequently united and permitted to nurse for 1, 5, 15, 30 min; or 1, 2 and 4hr. Blood samples were obtained prior to and throughout the suckling interval and pituitary glands were processed for electron microscopy. Control animals consisted of normal lactating females and animals separated from their young for 8 hr. Normally lactating controls had high prolactin serum levels (501±95 ng/ml) and synthetically active appearing mammotrophs. An 8 hr separation from the pups induced a dramatic lowering of serum prolactin (32±5 ng/ml), an increase in secretory granule storage, and a great dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) cisternae. Five min of renewed suckling resulted in a rise of plasma prolactin levels (605±183 ng/ml) which remained high thereafter. The major ultrastructural changes observed during the first 30 min of suckling were as follows: 1) at 1 min, the RER became collapsed suggesting a discharge of its contents (soluble hormone?); 2) at 5 min, and much more obviously at 15 and 30 min, a massive discharge of secretory granules was observed; and 3) at 15 and 30 min, the collapsed RER underwent transformation from lamellar into a vesicular form. Prolonged suckling (for 1, 2 and 4 hr) induced new hormone synthesis as suggested by the presence of hypertrophied Golgi elements and numerous immature granules. This was accompanied by a new transformation of the RER from the vesicular into a lamellar form now consisting of very slender cisternae lined with numerous ribosomes, presumably involved in the renewal of the synthetic process. The morphologic findings described correlate well with the time table of prolactin release. In addition, the dramatic early changes in the structure of the RER suggest a possible involvement of this organelle in the storage and release of a proposed rapidly releasable pool of prolactin.