Patterns of prolactin secretion.

Prolactin is pleotropic in nature affecting multiple tissues throughout the body. As a consequence of the broad range of functions, regulation of anterior pituitary prolactin secretion is complex and atypical as compared to other pituitary hormones. Many studies have provided insight into the complex hypothalamic-pituitary networks controlling prolactin secretion patterns in different species using a range of techniques. Here, we review prolactin secretion in both males and females; and consider the different patterns of prolactin secretion across the reproductive cycle in representative female mammals with short versus long luteal phases and in seasonal breeders. Additionally, we highlight changes in the pattern of secretion during pregnancy and lactation, and discuss the wide range of adaptive functions that prolactin may have in these important physiological states.

• Publication year

  2019

• Venue

  Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

• Publication date

  2019-12-13

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110679PMID 31843563
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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