Involvement of prolactin in the REM sleep-promoting activity of systemic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)

The involvement of pituitary prolactin (PRL) in systemic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced sleep was studied. Male rats were implanted with electrodes for EEG-recording, with brain thermistors to record cortical temperature (T_crt) and with chronic intracardial catheters to obtain blood samples and to deliver substances. One group of rats (n = 8) received normal rabbit serum (NS) + physiological saline (SAL) on the baseline day and was injected with NS + VIP on the experimental day. In the other group of rats (n = 6), the baseline day was followed by administration of PRL-antiserum (PRL-AS) + VIP on the experimental day. The sera and VIP or SAL were injected 30 min before and at light onset, respectively. Sleep-wake activity was then recorded for the next 12-h light period. Systemic VIP-stimulated PRL secretion as measured by RIA in serial samples obtained hour 1 postinjection. VIP also elicited selective increases in REM sleep (REMS) in the rats pretreated with NS. T_crt was not affected by VIP. Administration of PRL-AS blocked the increase in circulating levels of free (non-IgG-bound) PRL and prevented VIP-enhanced REMS. Comparisons of the sleep effects of PRL-AS + VIP with the previously reported changes in sleep after PRL-AS alone indicate that PRL has a major role in the mediation of the REMS-promoting activity of systemic VIP. The results suggest that an increased release of endogenous pituitary PRL modulates REMS.