Prolactin status in chronic nephropathy in the rat.

Decreased specific prolactin binding to kidney membrane preparations, and an upward trend in serum prolactin levels were observed concomitantly with the onset of chronic progressive nephropathy im male rats of the OFA Sandoz SPF strain. Females of the same strain developed a less severe form of the disease at a later age, but failed to show the changes in prolactin status seen in male rats. Nephropathy in both male and female animals was associated with morphological abnormalities of a predominantly tubular nature, but was not associated with development of renal failure as indicated by serum urea and creatinine levels. Possible mechanisms for the observed alterations in prolactin status are discussed.