Somatotroph and lactotroph function in relation to growth in six-week-old pigs reared in a hot or cool environment

The influences of thermal environment and individual growth rate on somatotroph and lactotroph function were examined in 6-week-old barrows reared entirely in a hot (H: 27–32°C, n = 8) or cool (C: 21°C, n = 10) environment. Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) cell contents and responses to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) were evaluated in cultured pituitary cells from each animal. Plasma GH, PRL, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations also were monitored. Thermal environment did not affect in vitro GH secretion, cellular GH content, or plasma GH concentrations. Stimulated in vitro GH release (GHRH-basal) and plasma GH were inversely related to average daily gain (ADG, r = −.76, p < .005 and r = −.51, p < .05, respectively). Cellular GH content also declined as ADG increased (r = −.57, p < .05). Plasma IGF-1 concentrations were not affected by thermal environment and were not related to ADG. Pituitary cells from H animals secreted and contained more PRL than cells from C animals (p < .05). Plasma PRL values were correlated with ADG (r = .54, p < .05), but did not differ between thermal groups. Stimulated in vitro PRL (TRH-vehicle) secretion was positively related with ADG only in the H group (r = .97, p < .001). In contrast, cellular PRL content decreased with ADG in cells from the H barrows (r = −.8, p < .05). Lactotroph function was not related to growth in cells from C pigs. In summary, 1) heat enhanced PRL secretion and cell content; 2) growth and somatotroph function were inversely related; and 3) serum PRL and the PRL response to TRH in cells from H barrows were positively related to growth.