Prolactin Regulation by the Pars Tuberalis

结节部对催乳素的调节

• 批准号: 0745084
• 负责人: Donal Skinner
• 金额: $ 42万
• 依托单位: University of Wyoming
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-05-01 至 2012-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0745084&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Prolactin; Regulation; Pars; Tuberalis

Many hormones follow seasonal rhythms, but none more so than prolactin. Prolactin is secreted by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain and is high in summer and low in winter. These seasonal changes are driven by the changes in daylight that are transformed into a chemical signal in the body by another hormone, melatonin. Melatonin acts on an enigmatic subdivision of the pituitary gland, the pars tuberalis, to regulate the secretion of an unknown factor that, in turn, drives seasonal prolactin release. In the current project it is hypothesized that the identity of this unknown factor is a "tachykinin". Using sheep as a model, this project will investigate the release of tachykinins by the pars tuberalis and the effect of these tachykinins on prolactin secretion during the different seasons of the year. It is expected that tachykinin production or receptor regulation will differ between seasons and, accordingly, its ability to modulate prolactin release will be seasonally dependent. This research will drive forward an important basic scientific question - establishing what the enigmatic pars tuberalis secretes. This research may also resolve why chromophobic tumors of the pars tuberalis region induce hyperprolactinemia and address the common link between hyperprolactinemia and infertility in mammals. The project will offer unique training opportunities for students who will be expected to present their findings at national and international conferences and these students will have the opportunity to become co-authors on peer-reviewed publications.

许多激素遵循季节性节律，但没有一个比催乳素更重要。催乳素是由大脑底部的脑垂体分泌的，夏季含量高，冬季含量低。这些季节变化是由日光的变化驱动的，日光的变化被另一种激素褪黑激素转化为体内的化学信号。褪黑激素作用于脑下垂体的一个神秘的分支，结节部，调节一种未知因子的分泌，反过来又驱动季节性催乳素的释放。在当前项目中，假设该未知因子的身份是“速激肽”。以绵羊为模型，本研究将探讨结节部速激肽的释放，以及这些速激肽在一年中不同季节对催乳素分泌的影响。预计速激肽的产生或受体调节在季节之间会有所不同，因此，其调节催乳素释放的能力将取决于季节。这项研究将推动一个重要的基础科学问题--确定神秘的结节部分泌什么。这项研究也可能解决为什么结节部区域的嫌色性肿瘤诱导高催乳素血症，并解决高催乳素血症和哺乳动物不育之间的共同联系。 该项目将为学生提供独特的培训机会，他们将在国家和国际会议上展示他们的研究结果，这些学生将有机会成为同行评审出版物的共同作者。