Suckling induced insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) release in mother rats

András H Lékó; Melinda Cservenák; Árpád Dobolyi

doi:10.1016/j.ghir.2017.10.003

Suckling induced insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) release in mother rats

Growth Horm IGF Res. 2017 Dec:37:7-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ghir.2017.10.003. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Authors

András H Lékó¹, Melinda Cservenák², Árpád Dobolyi³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary.
² Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary; MTA-ELTE NAP B Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary.
³ Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary; MTA-ELTE NAP B Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary. Electronic address: dobolyia@caesar.elte.hu.

PMID: 29031906
DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2017.10.003

Abstract

Objective: Lactation involves significant neuroendocrine changes. The elevated prolactin (PRL) release from the pituitary, induced markedly by suckling, is the most relevant example. Suckling also causes a significant and rapid elevation in growth hormone (GH) levels. GH is necessary for milk synthesis as milk yield is stopped completely in the absence of PRL and GH, while the absence of PRL alone causes only a 50% reduction. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays an important role in the GH axis. GH exerts its effects through IGF-1 in the periphery, for example in the mammary gland. In addition, IGF-1 is responsible for the long-loop feedback control of GH secretion.

Design: IGF-1 secretion has not been established yet in mothers. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effect of suckling on serum IGF-1 level in rat mothers and correlated it with serum PRL levels. We examined a potential mechanism of the regulation of IGF-1 level during suckling by administering IGF-1 into the lateral ventricle of rat mothers continuously for 12days, or acutely, right before the start of suckling.

Results: We described that suckling affected IGF-1 release based on one-way repeated measures ANOVA (F=10.8 and p<0.001) and caused a marked increase of IGF-1 level 30min after the start of suckling (p<0.001). We demonstrated a significant (p<0.05; the correlation coefficient was 0.29) correlation to PRL level during suckling which supports that PRL could induce IGF-1 release. The prolonged central IGF-1 administration diminished the suckling-induced IGF-1 surge (F=9.19 and p<0.001) while the acute treatment did not have any effect compared to artificial cerebrospinal fluid injection, analysed with two-way repeated measures ANOVA.

Conclusions: In conclusion, suckling induces IGF-1 release either by elevating PRL or GH. Long-loop feedback via IGF-1 in the GH axis can diminish this action.

Keywords: GH; IGF-1; IGFBPs; Lactation; Neuropeptides; Prolactin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis
Brain / pathology
Female
Gene Expression Regulation*
Growth Hormone / metabolism*
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
Jugular Veins
Lactation*
Neuropeptides / metabolism
Osmosis
Pituitary Gland / metabolism
Prolactin / metabolism*
Rats
Rats, Wistar

Substances

Neuropeptides
insulin-like growth factor-1, rat
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Prolactin
Growth Hormone