The Influence of Adrenalectomy and of Corticosterone Administration on the Ether-Induced Increase in Plasma Prolactin in Ovariectomized Estrogen-Treated Rats

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Abstract
Ovariectomized, polyestradiol-phosphate (PEP) injected, catheterized rats subjected to continuous ether anesthesia showed an increase in plasma prolactin level at 10 min followed by lower levels at 30, 60, and 120 min. Plasma corticosterone levels were increased significantly under continuous ether anesthesia. In contrast to intact animal, bilaterally adrenalectomized animals under ether anesthesia showed a sustained elevation of plasma prolactin at all time periods. In adrenalectomized animals subjected to ether anesthesia the exogenous administration of corticosterone (either 500 .mu.g/rat or 25 .mu.g/rat) prevented the increase in plasma prolactin at the 10 min period when plasma level of corticosterone was high. In subsequent periods as the plasma corticosterone decreased, the plasma prolactin increased. It is suggested that corticosterone has an inhibitory feedback effect on the ether-induced prolactin release.