Expression and role of galanin in the hypothalamus of rat with the drug-induced hyperprolactinemia / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the expression and role of galanin in the hypothalamus of rat with the drug-induced hyperprolactinemia.Methods Hyperprolactinemia was induced by daily intraperitoneal injections 50 mg/kg sulpiride solution.The protein in the hypothalamus of rat was extracted to determine the expression levels of galanin with Western Blot.The expression and colocalization of galanin and dopamine in model and control group were observed with immunofluorescence.Results The model group showed a significant increase of serum prolactin (PRL) level and a significant decrease of serum estradiol (E2) level,as compared to the control group ((15.74±2.49) ng/ml vs (10.25±1.29) ng/ml and (4.24±0.69)pg/ml vs (9.56±3.25) pg/ml,respectively,P＜0.05).Both the expression level of galanin and the number of neurons coexisting with galanin and dopamine were decreased in the hypothalamus of the hyperprolactinemia rat compared with the control group.Western Blot revealed that,compared to the control group,the sulpiride model group had a significant increase of galanin but not TH (0.405±0.112 vs 0.985±0.158,P＜0.05 and 0.871 ± 0.046 vs 0.890±0.054,P＞ 0.05,respectively).Conclusion Galanin expression level has decrease in the hypothalamus of the hyperprolactinemia rat,which contributes to the reduction of dopaminergic neurons.