Pituitary hypoplasia and lactotroph dysfunction in mice deficient for cyclin-dependent kinase-4

David S. Moons, Siwanon Jirawatnotai, A. F. Parlow, Geula Gibori, Rhonda D. Kineman, Hiroaki Kiyokawa*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

The lactotroph undergoes dynamic regulation of cell cycle progression during pregnancy, as well as throughout the development of the pituitary. We recently reported that female mice with targeted disruption of Cdk4, one of the G1-regulatory cyclin-dependent kinases, are unable to support embryo implantation because of defective progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum. In this study, we demonstrate that this phenotype is not attributable to a primary defect in the corpus luteum but is a consequence of defective prolactin (PRL) production caused by inappropriate development of the pituitary lactotroph population. Specifically, the pituitary of Cdk4-deficient mice is extremely hypoplastic. Lactotrophs and somatotrophs of prepubertal Cdk4-deficient mice were 80% decreased in number, relative to those in wildtype mice, whereas gonadotrophs were unaffected. Lactotrophs of Cdk4-deficient mice did not proliferate in response to estrogen administration, whereas estrogen could induce the expression of galanin, an estrogen-responsive factor required for lactotroph proliferation. The reduction in lactotroph numbers was reflected by markedly diminished serum PRL levels in both prepubertal and postcoital Cdk4-deficient mice. Administration of PRL, after mating, significantly increased serum progesterone levels and restored implantation in Cdk4-deficient female mice. These observations demonstrate that Cdk4 is required for normal proliferation of the lactotroph population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3001-3008
Number of pages8
JournalEndocrinology
Volume143
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pituitary hypoplasia and lactotroph dysfunction in mice deficient for cyclin-dependent kinase-4'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this