Prolactin regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in TIDA neurons

Prolactin regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in TIDA neurons 

The rapid (i.e. less than 4 h) activation of TH in the median eminence by prolactin that constitutes the tonic component of prolactin stimulation does not require protein synthesis, but is probably associated with effects on the catalytic properties of this enzyme. Pasqualini and coworkers (1994) demonstrated in vitro that prolactin acts directly on TH in the mediobasal hypothalamus to trigger the phosphorylation of this enzyme. This effect, possibly mediated by protein kinase C, makes the enzyme less susceptible to inhibition by newly synthesized DA. That is, prolactin-induced short-term activation of TH results from the removal of end-product inhibition of the enzyme. Conversely, the acute reduction in TH activity measured in vitro in median eminence removed from rats 4 h after administration of bromocriptine is prevented by the coadministration of prolactin (Arbogast and Voogt, 1995). This can also be prevented by an inhibitor of phosphoprotein phosphatases, suggesting that rapid suppression of TH activity secondary to the bromocriptine-induced hypoprolactinemia may also result from dephosphorylation of the enzyme. 

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