Decreased glucose stimulation threshold, enhanced insulin secretion, and increased beta cell coupling in islets of prolactin-treated rats

Summary In order to determine the effect of lactogen on insulin secretion and junctional coupling among islet beta cells, ovine prolactin (oPRL) was infused by Alzet minipumps into female rats for 4 days. This treatment produced an oPRL level of 994 ± 122 ng/ml which, combined with residual rat PRL (rPRL) (12 ± 2 ng/ml), represented nearly a 20-fold increase from control (rPRL: 53 ± 17 ng/ml). In addition, plasma insulin was increased nearly 50% (control: 21.9 ± 3 μU/ml; experimental: 30.3 ± 3 μU/ml; p