Regulation of electrolyte transport across cultured endometrial epithelial cells by prolactin

Abstract

The effect of prolactin (PRL) on ion transport across the porcine glandular endometrial epithelial cells was studied in primary cell culture using the short-circuit current technique. Addition of 1 μg/ml PRL either to the apical solution or to the basolateral solution produced a peak followed by a sustained increase in Isc, but with a lesser response when PRL was added apically. Basolateral addition of PRL increased the Isc in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum effect at 1 μg/ml and an effective concentration value of 120 ng/ml. The PRL-stimulated Isc was significantly reduced by pretreatment with an apical addition of 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (200 μM), diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (1 mM) or 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (200 μM), Cl− channel blockers, but not by amiloride (10 μM), a Na+ channel blocker. In addition, pretreatment with bumetanide (200 μM), a Na+–K+–2Cl− cotransporter inhibitor, in the basolateral solution significantly reduced the PRL-stimulated Isc. Replacement of Cl− or in the bathing solutions also decreased the Isc response to PRL. Pretreatment of the monolayer with AG490 (50 μM), an inhibitor of JAK2 activity significantly inhibited the PRL-induced increase in Isc. Western blot analysis of the porcine endometrial epithelial cells revealed the presence of short isoform of PRL receptor (PRLR-S) that could be regulated by 17β-estradiol. The results of this investigation showed that PRL acutely stimulated anion secretion across the porcine endometrial epithelial cells possibly through PRLR-S present in both apical and basolateral membranes. The PRL response appeared to be mediated by the JAK2-dependent pathway.