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Prolactin, prolactin receptor and uncoupling proteins during fetal and neonatal development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2007

S. Pearce ,
A. Mostyn ,
M. C. Alves-Guerra ,
C. Pecqueur ,
B. Miroux ,
R. Webb ,
T. Stephenson  and
M. E. Symonds
S. Pearce*
Affiliation:
Academic Division of Child Health, School of Human Development, University Hospital, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
A. Mostyn
Affiliation:
Academic Division of Child Health, School of Human Development, University Hospital, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
M. C. Alves-Guerra
Affiliation:
CEREMOD, 9 rue Jules Hetzel, 92190, Meudon, France
C. Pecqueur
Affiliation:
CEREMOD, 9 rue Jules Hetzel, 92190, Meudon, France
B. Miroux
Affiliation:
CEREMOD, 9 rue Jules Hetzel, 92190, Meudon, France
R. Webb
Affiliation:
Division of Agriculture and Horticulture, School ofBiosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughbrough, LEI2 5RD, UK
T. Stephenson
Affiliation:
Academic Division of Child Health, School of Human Development, University Hospital, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
M. E. Symonds
Affiliation:
Academic Division of Child Health, School of Human Development, University Hospital, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Miss Sarah Pearce, fax +44 115 970 9382, mgxsp@nottingham.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Uncoupling proteins (UCP) 1 and 2 are members of the subfamily of inner mitochondrial membrane carriers. UCP1 is specific to brown adipose tissue (BAT), where it is responsible for the rapid production of heat at birth. In fetal sheep UCP1 is first detectable at approximately 900d of gestation; its abundance increases with gestational age and peaks at the time of birth. The mRNA and protein for both the long and short form of the prolactin (PRL) receptor (PRLR) are also highly abundant in BAT. Enhanced PRLR abundance in late gestation is associated with an increase in the abundance of UCP1. This relationship between PRLR and UCP is not only present in BAT. Similar findings are now reported in the pregnant ovine uterus, where PRLR abundance reaches a maximum just before that of UCP2. However, the role of PRLR in BAT remains undetermined. Rat studies have shown that PRL administration throughout pregnancy results in offspring with increased UCP1 at birth. Studies in newborn lambs have shown that administration of PRL (20mg/d) causes an acute response, increasing colonic temperature in the first hour by 1°. This increased colonic temperature is maintained for the first 240h of life, in conjunction with enhanced lipolysis. After 70d of treatment there is no difference in the abundance of UCP1 but an increase in UCP1 activity; this effect may be mediated by an increase in lipolysis. Taken together these findings suggest that PRL could be an important endocrine factor during pregnancy and early postnatal life.

Keywords

ProlactinProlactin receptorUncoupling proteinsFetal and neonatal developmentBrown adipose tissue
Type
Micronutrient Group Symposium on ‘Micronutrient supplementation: when and why?’
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 62 , Issue 2 , May 2003 , pp. 421 - 427
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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