Effect of passive immunization with antisera to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and peptide histidine isoleucine amide on 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan-induced prolactin release in rats.

The present study was aimed to clarify, by use of the passive immunization method, the involvement of endogenous vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucine amide (PHI)-like peptides in the stimulation of PRL-like immunoreactive material release induced by 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5HTP), a serotonin precursor. We used conscious, freely moving male rats of the Wistar strain (BW, 250-300 g) chronically cannulated with atrial catheters. Anti-VIP serum (AVS) and anti-PHI serum (APS), each generated in rabbits against synthetic porcine VIP and natural porcine PHI, respectively, were highly potent [maximum binding capacity (Bmax): AVS, 55.5 nmol/ml; APS, 5.53 nmol/ml] and specific. Bolus injection of 5HTP (10 mg/kg BW) through the catheter caused a significant increase in plasma PRL (nanograms per ml) in rats pretreated with normal rabbit serum (NRS) [14.3 +/- (SE) 3.8----56.3 +/- 11.2], with AVS (12.3 +/- 3.5----48.5 +/- 6.2), with APS (10.5 +/- 3.9----43.5 +/- 8.8), and with AVS plus APS (9.0 +/- 1.4----28.5 +/- 2.7). The basal PRL concentrations did not differ significantly among these groups, whereas the PRL responses to 5HTP were significantly blunted in AVS plus APS-pretreated rats (P less than 0.05 vs. NRS). To eliminate the modification by dopaminergic control of 5HTP-induced PRL release, the next experiment was performed in rats repeatedly injected with sulpiride, a dopamine receptor antagonist (5 mg/kg BW), every 30 min. The first injection of sulpiride caused a prompt and marked increase in plasma PRL, followed by decreasing but still high levels of plasma PRL upon the subsequent injections of sulpiride every 30 min. The cumulative release area of PRL after pretreatment with AVS plus APS or APS alone was significantly lower than that after NRS (P less than 0.05). The same dose of 5HTP resulted in a significant further increase in plasma PRL exceeding the levels elevated by sulpiride injections in NRS-treated rats. Prior simultaneous administration of AVS and APS resulted in a complete suppression of 5HTP-induced PRL release, whereas pretreatment with either AVS or APS showed only a minimal effect. These results suggest that endogenous VIP and PHI-like peptides are PRL-releasing factors, involved at least in the mechanism of 5HTP-induced PRL release, in which the dopaminergic control may be also involved.