Peter Colosi

Development of a homologous radioimmunoassay for secreted hamster prolactin.

Abstract A specific and sensitive homologous radioimmunoassay has been developed for secreted hamster prolactin. Hamster serum and pituitary extracts showed parallel dilution-response curves with hamster prolactin. The sensitivity of the assay ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 ng/ml, and the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 6 and 10%, respectively. Additionally we have demonstrated that the rat prolactin radioimmunoassay kit distributed by the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases is an inadequate method for the measurement of hamster prolactin.

The amino acid composition of secreted mouse prolactin, growth hormone, and hamster prolactin: the presence of one tryptophan in mouse prolactin.

Abstract The amino acid compositions and the electrophoretic properties of secreted mouse prolactin (mPRL), mouse growth hormone (mGH), and hamster prolactin (haPRL) were determined. The amino acid compositions of secreted mPRL and haPRL were similar to the compositions of other rodent prolactins, except that secreted mPRL contained only one tryptophan residue rather than the usual two. The composition of secreted mGH was similar to that of rat growth hormone. On 10% alkaline polyacrylamide gels, mPRL, mGH, and haPRL migrated with R f s of 0.54, 0.21, and 0.69, respectively. The molecular weights of mPRL, mGH, and haPRL, determined by SDS-gel electrophoresis, were 23,000, 21,000, and 22,000, respectively.

Homologous radioimmunoassay for secreted mouse prolactin

Abstract A highly specific, homologous radioimmunoassay has been developed for the secreted form of mouse prolactin using hormone isolated and purified from the media from long-term pituitary cultures. Mouse pituitary homogenates and mouse serum give parallel dilution response curves in the assay, and no cross-reaction is seen with either mouse growth hormone or mouse placental lactogen. The assay is sensitive to 40 pg per tube, and the reproducibility and precision of the assay are within acceptable limits. Antiserum generated to secreted mouse prolactin cross-reacts with both the secreted and stored forms of the hormone; however, the secreted form shows greater immunopotency. Secreted prolactin also shows greater immunopotency when compared with stored prolactin using an antiserum generated to the stored form of the hormone.

Development and retention of phenotypically specialized cells in pituitary allografts in the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

SummaryWe used immunohistochemistry to identify cells present in pituitary allografts in the hamster. Hypophyses removed from neonatal hamsters or adenohypophyses removed from adult females were placed beneath renal capsules of hypophysectomized adult females. Serum PRL, LH, and GH concentrations were measured at two, five, and eight weeks after placement of allografts. Allografts were removed after eight weeks and stained for cells containing PRL, LH, FSH, GH, or ACTH. Allografts did not release LH or GH. Those of adult adenohypophyseal tissue released significantly more PRL. The morphology of allografts of neonatal hypophyseal tissue resembled that of the adult adenohypophysis in situ. Lactotrophs, corticotrophs, somatotrophs and LH-cells were observed; very few FSH-cells were present. Allografts of adult adenohypophyseal tissue contained pituitary cells, numerous cavities, often enclosing lymphoid cells, and fibrous tissue. Atypical lactotrophs were the numerically dominant cells in these allografts; all other cells were present. The LH-cells outnumbered FSH-cells. These observations suggest that: (a) development of normal adenohypophyseal morphology can occur in an ectopic position; (b) intracellular hormones are present in cells in an ectopic site; (c) development and retention of intracellular FSH is more dependent on occupation of the normal position of the adenohypophysis than is retention of intracellular LH; and (d) release of PRL occurs from atypical cells in allografts of adult adenohypophyseal tissue.

Identification of a Placental Lactogen in Pregnant Snell and Ames Dwarf Mice

Abstract Sera and placentas from pregnant dwarf mice contain a placental lactogen. This placental lactogen has immunological and electrophoretic properties similar to those of placental lactogen from normal mice.

Isolation, purification, and characterization of deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) prolactin.

Prolactin (PRL) secreted by Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii anterior pituitaries was purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Peromyscus PRL (pmPRL) eluted from Sephadex G-100 with an elution-to-void volume ratio of 1.9 and at a salt concentration of 100 mM NaCl on DEAE-cellulose. Electrophoretic homogeneity of the hormone was demonstrated in several gel systems. On 7 1/2% alkaline polyacrylamide gels, pmPRL migrated with an Rf of 0.65. The molecular weight of pmPRL was estimated at 24,000 to 26,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis and molecular exclusion chromatography. The amino acid composition of pmPRL was similar to other mammalian PRLs including two tryptophan residues and three disulfide bonds. Leucine was found to be the NH2-terminal residue. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicated an alpha-helix content of 55 +/- 5%, a value typical for prolactin molecules. However, in the region of side-chain absorption, the CD spectrum displayed a weak, asymmetric, negative band near 299 nm, with the CD returning to slightly positive values at 292 nm. This CD pattern is not typical of other secreted or stored prolactins. In the pigeon crop-sac assay, pmPRL showed a prolactin-like activity of 21 IU/mg.

Development and characterization of a homologous radioimmunoassay for deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) prolactin

A highly specific and sensitive homologous radioimmunoassay has been developed for the secreted form of prolactin from the deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii. Peromyscus serum and pituitary homogenates displayed parallel dilution response curves, and no cross reaction was seen with either mouse prolactin, mouse growth hormone or rat prolactin. The assay was sensitive to 25 picograms per tube and the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 5 and 3.6%, respectively. In addition, we have demonstrated that Peromyscus prolactin does not show parallel displacement in a homologous radioimmunoassay utilized for measuring prolactin in the common laboratory mouse.

Conformational comparison of stored and secreted ovine pituitary prolactin

Highly purified samples of stored and secreted ovine pituitary prolactin have been compared with regard to those conformational properties evidenced by ultraviolet absorption and circular dichroism measurements. No significant differences were found in any of the optical properties measured. The previously reported absence of tryptophanyl circular dichroism in the secreted forms of rat and mouse prolactins may be typical only of rodent hormones and not a general phenomenon.