prolactin; lactogenic hormone (PRL)

Function

• the major function of prolactin is in conjunction with a variety of other hormones to promote breast development & to initiate lactation in women
• there is no known physiological function in men

Structure

• single chain polypeptide hormone

Compartment

secreted

Expression

• secreted from the anterior pituitary gland
• dopaminergic tuberoinfundibular system inhibits prolactin secretion by pituitary lactotrophs

Pathology

• disorders in prolactin secretion are associated with hyperprolactinemia

More general terms

• pituitary gonadotropin

Additional terms

• hyperprolactinemia
• pituitary adenoma/prolactin secreting (prolactinoma)
• prolactin in serum
• prolactin receptor; PRL-R (PRLR)

Database

• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P01236.html
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/176760
• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=5617