Neonatal Diethylstilbestrol Treatment: Response of Prolactin to Dopamine or Estradiol in Adult Mice*

The effects of neonatal diethylstilbestrol (DES) treatment on pituitary PRL response to dopamine (DA) inhibition or estrogen stimulation were studied in C3H/MTV+ mice at 10 weeks, 5 months and 8 months of age using synthesis and release of [3H]PRL by the pituitary as endpoints. In the DA study, anterior pituitaries from ovariectomized or intact, neonatally hormone-treated mice were incubated for 6 h in the presence or absence of DA. In the estrogen study, serum and anterior pituitaries were obtained from ovariectomized neonatally hormone-treated mice injected with oil or 17 beta-estradiol for 7 days before death. Neonatal treatment of mice with 2.5 micrograms/day DES altered basal [3H]PRL synthesis and release as well as circulating PRL concentrations. The results of analysis of variance indicated a significant interaction between the effects of neonatal hormone treatment and DA treatment on [3H]PRL release. Neonatal DES treatment did not alter the response of pituitary PRL to estrogen treatment at the ages examined.