Mu and kappa opioid receptor expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus and effectiveness of selective antagonists on prolactin release during lactation

Endogenous opioid peptides are involved in prolactin release during lactation, in part by decreasing tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neuronal activity. Both mu (μ) and kappa (κ) opioid receptors have a role in the suckling-induced prolactin rise after 4–5 h up deprivation. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of μ opioid receptor antagonist, β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA), and κ opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), on prolactin secretion and TIDA neuronal activity in lactating rats after 18 h pup deprivation. After 4 h separation from pups, the suckling-induced prolactin rise was abolished by 16 μg nor-BNI and 5 μg β-FNA, coincident with increased dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC):dopamine ratio in the stalk-median eminence (SME). However, after 18 h pups separation, these same doses of nor-BNI and β-FNA did not alter the prolactin surge or DOPAC:dopamine ratios in the SME. Higher doses of nor-BNI (32 μg) and β-FNA (10 μg) were required to inhibit suckling-induced prolactin secretion. β-FNA (10 μg) increased the DOPAC:dopamine ratio in the SME, whereas nor-BNI (32 μg) treatment had no effect. The μ and κ opioid receptor mRNA levels in the mediobasal hypothalamus were similar to suckled control rats after 4 h pup deprivation, but increased 1.4-fold after 18 h pup deprivation. These data support involvement of endogenous opioidergic systems in the suckling-induced prolactin rise after a prolonged (18 h) period of pup deprivation, as well as the shorter (4 h) pup deprivation period previously reported. Suppression of TIDA neuronal activity likely played a part in μ opioid receptor input to the suckling-induced prolactin rise after both 4 h and 18 h separation, whereas non-dopaminergic input was implicated with κ opioid receptors after 18 h pup deprivation. Increased μ and κ opioid receptors gene expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus may contribute to reduced effectiveness of opioid receptor antagonists to block suckling-induced prolactin release after 18 h pup deprivation.