Effects of hormones on mammary adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate levels and metabolism in normal and adrenalectomized lactating rats.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) T4, and epinephrine (Epi) were incubated with mammary tissue slices from normal and adrenalectomized (Adx) rats and Adx rats receiving cortisol (Adx + C). PGE1, T4, and the combination of Epi, T4, and PGE1 increased mammary slice cAMP levels in all groups. No differences were observed among treatment groups in basal cAMP levels or responses to hormones. Glucose-1-14C oxidation and incorporation into lipids were stimulated by PGE1, T4, and the combination of EPi, T4, and PGE1 in normal rats. Responses were depressed by adrenalectomy and reversed by cortisol. PGE1, T4, and the combination of EPi, T4, and PGE1 depressed glucose-6-14C oxidation. Fatty acid synthesis from glucose-6-14C was stimulated by Epi, PGE1, and T4 in tissues from normal and Adx + C rats, but not in those from Adx rats. Glycerol synthesis was unchanged. Pyruvate-1-14C and pyruvate-2-14C oxidation were uneffected by adrenalectomy or hormones. Fatty acid synthesis was depressed by adrenalectomy and reversed by cortisol. T4 and the combination of Epi, T4, and PGE1 depressed triacylglycerol and fatty acid synthesis in all groups. Glycerol synthesis was unchanged. Hormonal effects were much more pronounced when glucose was the substrate. This suggests that cAMP effects on glucose metabolism are manifest at a site between hexose-P and pyruvate, and further, that a primary effect of adrenalectomy may be to reduce the responsiveness of this site to cAMP. Linear regression analyses comparing cAMP levels with glucose and pyruvate metabolic parameters further support this conclusion.