Eldridge J C, Lymangrover J R
Horm Res. 1984;20(4):252-60. doi: 10.1159/000180005.
Prolactin, alone and in combination with ACTH, was tested for its ability to release steroids from rat adrenocortical slices superfused in vitro. The hormone possessed weak activity alone (minimal responsive dose = 1 U), but was able to potentiate the ACTH-stimulated corticoid release at much lower doses (significant response over ACTH alone at 0.01 U prolactin). This latter dosage was calculated to be within the physiologic range of prolactin in blood. Analysis of individual steroids in superfusate by RIA revealed that aldosterone release was most sensitive to prolactin, followed by corticosterone, androstenedione, and progesterone. We conclude that prolactin is an adrenocortical secretagogue of physiological relevance in the rat, and that it could play a role in enhancing the action of ACTH to acutely release steroids.
单独使用催乳素以及将其与促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）联合使用，对其从体外灌注的大鼠肾上腺皮质切片中释放类固醇的能力进行了测试。该激素单独使用时活性较弱（最小反应剂量 = 1单位），但能够在低得多的剂量下增强促肾上腺皮质激素刺激的皮质类固醇释放（在0.01单位催乳素时，相对于单独使用促肾上腺皮质激素有显著反应）。后一剂量经计算处于血液中催乳素的生理范围内。通过放射免疫分析（RIA）对灌注液中的单个类固醇进行分析发现，醛固酮释放对催乳素最为敏感，其次是皮质酮、雄烯二酮和孕酮。我们得出结论，催乳素是大鼠体内具有生理相关性的肾上腺皮质促分泌素，并且它可能在增强促肾上腺皮质激素急性释放类固醇的作用中发挥作用。
