Pulsatile secretion of prolactin in laying and incubating turkey hens

Incubation behavior in the turkey hen is associated with a large increase in prolactin secretion. Previous research using hourly sampling of incubating hens has shown that prolactin levels fluctuate widely throughout a 24-hr period, suggestive of pulsatile secretion. This study compared the prolacti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Domestic animal endocrinology 1996-05, Vol.13 (3), p.277-282
Main Authors: Proudman, J.A., Wentworth, B.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
BLOOD PLASMA
CHICKENS
DINDON
Female
FEMALES
FEMELLE
HEMBRA
HORMONAS
HORMONE
HORMONES
Hyperprolactinemia - blood
Hyperprolactinemia - epidemiology
Hyperprolactinemia - veterinary
Incidence
INCUBATION
Oviposition - physiology
PAVO
PLASMA SANGUIN
PLASMA SANGUINEO
POLLO
POULET
Poultry Diseases - blood
Poultry Diseases - epidemiology
PROLACTIN
Prolactin - blood
PROLACTIN PULSES
PROLACTINA
PROLACTINE
Radioimmunoassay - methods
Radioimmunoassay - veterinary
SECRECION
SECRETION
Time Factors
TURKEYS
Turkeys - blood
Turkeys - physiology
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - physiology
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Summary:Incubation behavior in the turkey hen is associated with a large increase in prolactin secretion. Previous research using hourly sampling of incubating hens has shown that prolactin levels fluctuate widely throughout a 24-hr period, suggestive of pulsatile secretion. This study compared the prolactin secretory patterns of laying and incubating turkeys to determine if prolactin is secreted episodically and if the high prolactin levels characteristic of the incubating hen may result, at least in part, from a change in the amplitude or frequency of secretory pulses. Blood samples were collected from cannulated, unrestrained laying and incubating hens at 10-min intervals for up to 24 hr. Data were analyzed with the PULSAR program to determine baseline prolactin levels and to establish the magnitude, frequency, and duration of episodic secretory peaks. The results revealed that prolactin is secreted in a pulsatile pattern in both laying and incubating turkey hens. Incubating hens had ninefold higher mean and baseline plasma prolactin levels than laying hens. The prolactin pulses were of approximately 12-fold greater amplitude in incubating hens than in laying hens, but the duration and frequency of pulses were the same in both groups. Therefore, the high prolactin levels required for incubation do not appear to result from an increase in the frequency of lactotroph stimulation, but rather from an increase in the prolactin secretion rate.
ISSN:0739-7240
1879-0054
DOI:10.1016/0739-7240(96)00018-5