Hyperprolactinemia exerts a negative effect on the beta-endorphin content of the rat neurointermediate pituitary lobe.

Implantation of the PRL, ACTH, beta-endorphin (beta-EP), and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH)-secreting transplantable rat pituitary tumor 7315a resulted in a suppression of the PRL and the ACTH content of the anterior pituitary gland and also of the beta-EP/beta-LPH content of the neurointermediate (NI) lobe. Treatment with bromocriptine further diminished the anterior lobe PRL content, whereas haloperidol partially inhibited this tumor-mediated diminution. The administration of these drugs did not influence the suppressed ACTH content of the anterior pituitary lobe. The diminished beta-EP/beta-LPH content of the NI lobe of tumor-bearing rats became completely normal after treatment with haloperidol, whereas bromocriptine administration further diminished the NI lobe beta-EP/beta-LPH content. There was a close correlation between the anterior pituitary lobe PRL content and the beta-EP/beta-LPH content of the NI lobe in all four groups of rats taken together (including nontumor-bearing controls, control tumor rats, and tumor rats treated with bromocriptine or haloperidol; P less than 0.01). Implantation of the pure PRL-secreting pituitary tumor 7315b resulted in hyperprolactinemia and a suppression of the PRL content of the anterior lobe and the beta-EP/beta-LPH content of the NI lobe, without affecting the ACTH content of the anterior pituitary lobe. There was a negative correlation between the level of the circulating PRL concentration and the beta-EP/beta-LPH content of the NI lobe. These results suggest a possible relationship between the synthesis of PRL by the anterior pituitary lactotroph and of the hormones of the NI lobe. The level of the circulating PRL concentration may play, directly or indirectly, a role in the regulation of both systems.