the effect of β-glucan on prolactin secretion in gh3/b6 cells

it is well known that several plant extracts have a lactogenic effect. this response may be inducedthrough the stimulation of prolactin release from lactotrope cells. a partial purification of the activecompound indicated that it is rich in pectin and β-glucan. these materials stimulate secretion of prolactinfrom hypophyseal fragments. in the present study, the effect of β-glucan on the secretion of prolactin fromgh3/b6 pituitary tumor cells has been investigated. these cells are good tools for studying the direct effect ofβ-glucan on prolactin secretion. the different concentrations of β-glucan (50, 100 and 200 μg/ml) increasedsecretion of prolactin within 24 hours of incubation in gh3/b6 media. moreover, the secretion of prolactinwas significantly elicited at 100 and 200 μg/ml of β-glucan incubation after 48 hours. these results suggestthat β-glucan can affect the synthesis and/or release of prolactin, a hormone that plays many importantphysiological roles from gh3/b6 pituitary tumor cells.