Prolactin in animal experimentation. Report on the workshop conference of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry held on November 8 to 9, 1984 in Rödermark, FRG.

Work in recent years has revealed that prolactin can no longer be considered exclusively as a lactation hormone, and must be seen in a much wider physiological perspective. Biochemical and pharmacological studies in animals have made a special contribution, and prolactin is becoming increasingly important in toxicological investigations. The general custom of using rats for such studies has its own inherent problems, involving both the analytical methodology and the special requirements that must be observed in the housing and handling of these experimental animals. The aim of workshop conference was to review these special problems, together with our present knowledge of the mechanisms of prolactin secretion, and to present examples of pharmacological and toxicological studies on prolactin. Döhler (Hannover) spoke on the effect of experimental and pre-experimental conditions on the results of prolactin determination in rats. He described in detail the influence of sex, age and animal strain, and of biological rhythms. Alongside these physiological factors, however, a very great influence is exerted by the conditions of housing, and any external interference leads to often dramatic alterations in prolactin secretion. Wuttke (Göttingen) discussed the mechanisms of prolactin secretion in the rat. Here, dopamine holds a key position. This is also pharmacologically important, because prolactin secretion is stimulated by all dopamine antagonists and inhibited by all dopamine agonists. Vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP) and thyroliberin (TRH) stimulate prolactin secretion directly. The contribution by Nagy (Budapest) dealt with prolactin secretion in lactating rats and its modification by various transmitters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)