Neonatal diethylstilbestrol treatment: response of prolactin to dopamine or estradiol in adult mice.

The effects of neonatal diethylstilbestrol (DES) treatment on pituitary PRL response to dopamine (DA) inhibition or estrogen stimulation were studied in C3H/MTV+ mice at 10 weeks, 5 months and 8 months of age using synthesis and release of [3H]PRL by the pituitary as endpoints. In the DA study, anterior pituitaries from ovariectomized or intact, neonatally hormone-treated mice were incubated for 6 h in the presence or absence of DA. In the estrogen study, serum and anterior pituitaries were obtained from ovariectomized neonatally hormone-treated mice injected with oil or 17 beta-estradiol for 7 days before death. Neonatal treatment of mice with 2.5 micrograms/day DES altered basal [3H]PRL synthesis and release as well as circulating PRL concentrations. The results of analysis of variance indicated a significant interaction between the effects of neonatal hormone treatment and DA treatment on [3H]PRL release. Neonatal DES treatment did not alter the response of pituitary PRL to estrogen treatment at the ages examined.