Expression of lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 in the adult female mouse pituitary gland.

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA) is a receptor of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). The present study investigated Lpar mRNA expression in the mouse pituitary gland by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Lpar mRNA was abundantly expressed in the pituitary gland. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed over 90 % of a common glycoprotein α-subunit, luteinizing hormone β-subunit, and thyroid-stimulating hormone β-subunit immunoreactive cells co-expressed Lpar mRNA in the anterior pituitary gland, but few growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and prolactin cells co-expressed Lpar. Furthermore, Lpar mRNA levels in the pituitary gland were increased after ovariectomy and decreased after E2 administration. These results demonstrate that LPA-mediated signaling may play physiological roles in gonadotropes and thyrotropes in the mouse pituitary gland.