POTENTIATION OF THE MITOGENIC EFFECT OF ESTROGEN ON THE PITUITARY-GLAND BY ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION
- Authors:
- Published online on: September 1, 1995 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.7.3.643
- Pages: 643-648
Metrics: Total
Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Abstract
The effect of alcohol on estrogen-regulated lactotropic cell proliferation was examined in Fisher 344 rats. Alcohol was administered for 2 weeks using liquid diet containing 8.7% ethanol (v/v) and 37% ethanol-derived calories. The control group was pair-fed with an isocaloric diet minus the ethanol or adlib-fed with normal diet. Ethanol-treated rats showed mean blood ethanol concentrations between 60-90 mg/dl. Alcohol treatment did not effect the body growth rate, but increased the DNA synthesis in lactotropes and reduced the levels of lactotropic growth inhibitory transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) protein and mRNA in the pituitary. These results suggest that alcohol promotes estrogen-induced lactotropic proliferation, possibly by down regulating the inhibitory TGF-beta 1 control of lactotropic function.