Prolactin (PRL)

Prolactin is a protein hormone primarily produced by the anterior pituitary gland's lactotroph cells. It plays a central role in initiating and maintaining milk production in mammals but also has over 300 distinct biological functions across vertebrates. These include promoting mammary gland growth and differentiation, regulating reproductive function by inhibiting gonadotropins during high serum levels (such as during breastfeeding), modulating immune responses, influencing metabolism and pancreatic development, acting as a growth factor with anti-apoptotic properties, and participating in hematopoiesis and angiogenesis. Prolactin secretion is tightly regulated—mainly inhibited by hypothalamic dopamine—and can be stimulated by factors such as estrogen or thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Disorders involving abnormal prolactin secretion include hyperprolactinemia and prolactinoma; these are often treated with dopamine agonist drugs like bromocriptine or cabergoline that suppress its release from the pituitary gland[1][2][3][4][5].\n\nNote on target validity: "Prolactin secretion" itself is not a molecule or receptor but rather a physiological process describing the release of the hormone prolactin from cells. The actual molecular target relevant to drug action would be either "Prolactin" (the protein/hormone) or "Prolactin receptor." Therefore:\n\nis_incorrect = true\n\nbecause "prolactin secretion" does not refer to a discrete molecular entity suitable for direct pharmacological targeting; it describes an event/process rather than a specific therapeutic target molecule/receptor.

Other names

lactotropinmammotropinluteotropic hormone (LTH)luteotropin

Dopamine agonists inhibit prolactin secretion by stimulating D2 receptors on pituitary lactotrophs[5]