The effect of oestriol and tamoxifen on oestradiol induced prolactin secretion in anaesthetised rats.

In ovariectomized rats oestradiol and oestriol administered sc for 5 days increased basal plasma prolactin in a dose related manner to similar maximal values. The data fitted log dose-response curves. Oestradiol was about 12 times more potent than oestriol. These dose response relationships were retained on thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) administration (50 ng iv, blood sampled 5 min post TRH). In addition, significantly higher maximal response values for both oestradiol and oestriol were now seen. The relative potency also increased in oestradiols favour. We subsequently examined the effect of co-administering oestriol with oestradiol on plasma secretory responses to a single dose of oestradiol in young male rats: Oestriol (30 micrograms) potentiated increases in basal plasma prolactin, TRH stimulated prolactin secretion and radioimmunoassayable pituitary prolactin in rats in response to a single sc injection of oestradiol (10 micrograms). Tamoxifen, administered once also potentiated these responses to a single sc injection of oestradiol. However, if the tamoxifen was administered sequentially i.e. 48 and 24 h before or 48 and 24 h before and simultaneous with the oestradiol the potentiation was completely reversed.