Differential effects of extracellular matrix on secretion of prolactin and growth hormone by rat pituitary tumour cells in vitro.

Two types of rat pituitary tumour cells secreting both prolactin (Prl) and growth hormone (GH) were cultured in vitro either on plastic dishes or on surfaces coated with an extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from bovine corneal endothelium. The presence of ECM caused an increase in Prl but a decrease in GH. On one cell line the Prl response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) was increased by ECM. There was an increase in the rate of spread of the cultures, an increase in cell protein, and DNA synthesis and a change in cell morphology when ECM was used. It is suggested that these observations can be explained by a sensitizing action of ECM to growth factors present in serum.