The "low-dose" concept and the paradoxical effects of prolactin on grooming and sexual behavior

The effects of prolactin on animal behavior include the stimulation of novelty-induced grooming in rats. This effect has been demonstrated in hyperprolactinaemic animals bearing pituitary homografts under the kidney capsule or after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of prolactin. Since plasma prolactin levels in hyperprolactinaemic rats are similar to those of animals injected with low doses of rat prolactin, we studied the effects of this hormone injected subcutaneously (s.c.) in a dose range of 5-50 mu g/kg. Novelty-induced grooming was enhanced only in rats injected with 5 or 10 mu g/kg rat prolactin, whereas no effect was observed after the s.c. injection of the higher dose. The sexual behavior of male rats is also affected by prolactin. Male rats with normal mating activity showed enhanced sexual behavior when injected s.c, with rat prolactin (5, 10 or 50 mu g/kg). In animals with poor sexual performance or in impotent rats, prolactin (5 or 10 mu g/kg, but not 50 mu g/kg) restored the full pattern of sexual behavior. An increased lordosis quotient was also observed in ovariectomized rats treated with prolactin 5 or 10 mu g/kg. These results suggest that, besides the duration of hyperprolactinaemia, the effective level of plasma prolactin is important for the expression of the behavioral effects of this hormone. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.