Abstract
AimThe aim of this study was to determine and to verify the correlation between the amount of prolactin (PRL) levels in the blood and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by various causes of death as an indicator for acute hypoxia in autopsy cases. It is to confirm the cause of the change in prolactin level in CSF by in vitro system.Materials and methodsIn autopsy materials, the PRL levels in blood from the right heart ventricle and in the CSF were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, and changes in the percentage of PRL-positive cells in the pituitary gland were examined using an immunohistochemical method. Furthermore, an inverted culture method was used as an in vitro model of the blood-CSF barrier using epithelial cells of the human choroid plexus (HIBCPP cell line) and SDR-P-1D5 or MSH-P3 (PRL-secreting cell line derived from miniature swine hypophysis) under normoxic or hypoxic (5% oxygen) conditions, and as an index of cell activity, we used Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).Results and discussionSerum PRL levels were not significantly different between hypoxia/ischemia cases and other causes of death. However, PRL levels in CSF were three times higher in cases of hypoxia/ischemia than in those of the other causes of death. In the cultured cell under the hypoxia condition, PRL and VEGF showed a high concentration at 10 min. We established a brain-CSF barrier model to clarify the mechanism of PRL transport to CSF from blood, the PRL concentrations from blood to CSF increased under hypoxic conditions from 5 min. These results suggested that PRL moves in CSF through choroidal epithelium from blood within a short time. PRL is hypothesized to protect the hypoxic/ischemic brain, and this may be because of the increased transportation of the choroid plexus epithelial cells.
Highlights
Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone primarily secreted by lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland, with the exception of placental PRL [1]
We evaluated the usefulness of PRL levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for differentiating between death due to hypoxia/ischemia by asphyxia and other causes of death, using receiver operating characteristic curves and the respective areas under the curve
In our study, CSF PRL concentrations in cases of hypoxia/ischemia caused by asphyxia were higher than in other causes of death, no differences in serum PRL levels and mRNA PRL levels among the various causes of death were observed
Summary
Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone primarily secreted by lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland, with the exception of placental PRL [1]. PRL secretion increases, when dopamine production and transportation are impaired as a result of hypothalamic dysfunction resulting from drugs, hypoxic conditions, except in prolactinoma of the pituitary [5]. Studies on hyperprolactinemia under conditions of hypoxemia have been reported [10,11,12]. It has been suggested that hypoxia strongly effects on PRL levels during death. In the endocrinological field, our literature search did not find any studies that comprehensively examined changes in the levels of PRL in the blood or in the CSF. We clarified the correlation between PRL levels and various cause of death, excluding drug use and prolactinoma, and verified the effectiveness of PRL as an indicator for hypoxic conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
