Involvement of calcium ions in dopamine inhibition of prolactin secretion from sheep pituitary cells.

The involvement of calcium in the regulation of prolactin secretion and a possible inhibitory mechanism of action for dopamine have been investigated. Basal prolactin secretion from cultured ovine pituitary cells was dependent on the concentration of calcium ions (Ca2+) in the medium and was inhibited by the presence of verapamil (10 microM). The divalent cation ionophore A23187 (1 microM) caused a rapid stimulation of prolactin release from the cells. The effect was essentially complete within 10 min and subsequently secretion of prolactin occurred at close to the basal rate. A23187 had no effect on cell cyclic AMP levels. Dopamine (0.1 microM) but not verapamil (10 microM) inhibited the A23187 (10 microM) induced release of prolactin. Inhibition of basal and A23187 (1 microM) stimulated prolactin secretion occurred over a similar range of dopamine concentrations. The dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol (1 microM) reversed the inhibitory effect of dopamine (0.1 microM) on A23187-stimulated prolactin release. These results provide evidence to support the concept that control of Ca2+ handling by lactotrophs may be of fundamental importance in the regulation of prolactin secretion.