Walailak Jantarajit. Biophysical characteristics and mechanisms of prolactin-stimulated calcium transport in the duodenum of female rats. Master's Degree(Physiology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2008.
Biophysical characteristics and mechanisms of prolactin-stimulated calcium transport in the duodenum of female rats
Abstract:
Prolactin (PRL) has been shown to rapidly stimulate two components of total
active calcium transport, transcellular active and solvent drag-induced transepithelial
transports. Solvent drag-induced transport occurs via the paracellular pathway, and is
regulated by the charge- and size-selective properties of the epithelia. However, the
mechanism by which PRL enhances calcium transport has not been investigated.
This study therefore aimed to demonstrate the mechanism and signaling pathways of
PRL action in the duodenum. Duodenal segments (6 cm) from 10-week-old female
Sprague-Dawley rats were mounted in a modified Ussing chamber for measurement
of the transepithelial calcium flux. Electrical parameters of the tissue, i.e., potential
difference, short-circuit current, and transepithelial resistance, were measured by a
computer-assisted clamping setup. Charge selectivity was determined by the dilution
potential technique.
The results showed that PRL increased the total active calcium transport in a
dose-response manner. Its action was not inhibited by 50 μmol/L DRB (5,6-dichloro-
1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole), a classic RNA polymerase II inhibitor,
suggesting that the PRL signaling pathway in the duodenum is non-genomic. The
maximal effective concentration of PRL of 800 ng/mL activated both transcellular
active and solvent drag-induced calcium transports. Since the absolute permeability
of sodium (PNa) was enhanced while that of chloride (PCl) was decreased by 800
ng/mL PRL, the ratio of paracellular permeability to sodium and chloride (PNa/PCl),
which indicates charge selectivity, was increased. However, PRL did not alter the
permeability ratio of the alkali cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+). Furthermore, 75
μmol/L LY294002 (an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PI3K) and 10 μmol/L
U0126 (an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase; MAPK), but not 50 μmol/L
AG490 (a Janus kinase 2 inhibitor), completely reversed the PRL-induced changes in
the duodenal calcium transport and charge selectivity.
It is concluded that PRL rapidly and directly stimulates the total active
calcium transport in the duodenum through the non-genomic PI3K and MAPK
signaling pathways. Changes in the charge selectivity of the paracellular pathway
explained the PRL-stimulated solvent drag-induced calcium transport in the
duodenum.