Date of Award
1-1-2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Nancy Lorenzon
Keywords
calcium, Estradiol, lactotropes, lactotrophs, MMQ
Abstract
Pituitary lactotrophs are excitable cells that exhibit spontaneous, calcium influx triggering prolactin (PRL) secretion to stimulate lactation. Lactotrophs express estrogen receptors (ER) and are a well established estrogen-responsive cell system. 17B-estradiol (E2) is known to directly affect lactotrophs by increasing PRL transcription and biosynthesis, intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and PRL secretion. This study demonstrates that the MMQ clonal cell line, isolated from the 7315a rat pituitary tumor, is a model lactotroph cell line that is E2-responsive. Spontaneous and evoked Ca2+ transients were especially sensitive to L-type channel block, but not affected by block of omega-conotoxin-GVIA-sensitive CaV channels or TTX-sensitive voltage-gated Na+ (Nav) channels. A population of 17B-Estradiol-treated cells exhibited enhanced spontaneous Ca2+ oscillation amplitude and frequency and depolarization-evoked Ca2+ transients. E2 treatment significantly enhanced the Ca2+ response through dihydropyridine-sensitive voltage-gated Ca2+ (Cav) channels, suggesting that 17B-Estradiol increased L-type Ca2+ channel genomic expression.
Recommended Citation
Pauckova, Monika, "Estradiol Modulation of Calcium Dynamics in Pituitary MMQ Lactotroph Cells" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 501.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/501
Provenance
Recieved from ProQuest
Rights holder
Monika Pauckova
File size
57 p.
Copyright date
2012
File format
application/pdf
Language
en
Discipline
Biology
Comments
Copyright is held by the author.