Abstract:
Previous studies found that prolactin enhanced the passive calcium (Ca2+)
absorption in sexually mature and young, but not in aged rats. The action depended on
the presence of 80 mM or higher concentration of sodium in the lumen of the small
intestine.
The effects of an acute intraperitoneal and seven day subcutaneous
administration of 2.5 mg prolactin/kg body weight on the passive Ca2+ absorption in
the suckling rats were presently investigated in the in situ 5 cm intestinal segments.
Electrolyte solution (0.4 ml) containing 20 mM Ca2+ and 124 mM, 80 mM or 40 mM
or sodium free solution were instilled into the intestinal segment. 3H-mannitol and
45Ca were used to evaluate the tight junction permeability and Ca2+ fluxes,
respectively. Bromocriptine was administered (3 mg/kg body weight, twice daily) in
some animals to inhibit the secretion of endogenous prolactin in an attempt to
evaluate its significance.
The results showed no acute effect of prolactin on passive Ca2+ absorption in the
suckling rats, which was different from that of adult rats. However, the endogenous
prolactin enhanced Ca2+ absorption in the duodenum and jejunum, but not ileum or
colon, just like in the adult rats. In the absence of endogenous prolactin, duodenal
lumen to plasma Ca2+ (CaL-P) flux was significantly reduced from 1.94±0.27 to
1.23±0.2 μmol/cm/hr (P<0.05). Administration of a high dose of prolactin (2.5 mg/kg
body weight), in contrast to endogenous prolactin, decreased the duodenal CaL-P flux,
thus, confirming the biphasic action of prolactin also seen in the adult rats.
Interestingly, the reduction of luminal sodium concentration to 40 mM or absence of
luminal sodium was found to enhance the jejunal calcium absorption. Furthermore,
the stimulatory effect of endogenous prolactin was absent in the presence of luminal
sodium of 40 mM. When paracellular transport of 3H-mannitol and 45Ca was
concurrently studied in the presence of 124 mM sodium or absence of luminal
sodium, it was found that they were not parallel. The sodium free electrolyte solution
enhanced the paracellular absorption of 45Ca but not 3H-mannitol, suggesting that the
passive absorption of Ca2+ was not regulated simply by the size-restricted tight
junction.
In conclusion, our studies demonstrated some characteristics of the passive
calcium absorption in the suckling rats and its response to prolactin that were different
from that observed in adult rats.