Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Prolactin messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations throughout the ovine estrous cycle: Assessment relative to prolactin serum and pituitary amounts

Journal Article · · Life Sciences; (USA)

Prolactin (PRL) mRNA concentrations were assessed by nucleic acid hybridization assays in pituitaries of ewes representing the defined stages of the ovine estrous cycle. Concomitantly, pituitary and serum PRL concentrations were measured in these ewes using radioimmunoassays. It was observed that PRL serum, pituitary and mRNA concentrations tended to increase near the time of the gonadotropin preovulatory surge, particularly between 24 hrs before behavioral estrus to 5 hours after estrus. However, the changes in PRL mRNA, serum and pituitary concentrations were shown not to be statistically significant. These data suggest that PRL production during the sheep estrous cycle is maintained without dramatic changes in synthesis or secretion.

OSTI ID:
5924737
Journal Information:
Life Sciences; (USA), Journal Name: Life Sciences; (USA) Vol. 48:12; ISSN 0024-3205; ISSN LIFSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English