Torner Luz, Neumann Inga D
University of Regensburg, Institute of Zoology, Universitätsstr 31, Germany.
Stress. 2002 Dec;5(4):249-57. doi: 10.1080/1025389021000048638.
This review focuses on prolactin as a potential candidate for the regulation of emotional and neuroendocrine stress responses in the brain. In particular, we summarise evidence for a brain prolactin receptor-mediated anxiolytic action both in female and male rats, and for inhibitory actions on the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the neurohypophysial oxytocin system. These physiological functions of the brain prolactin system are especially relevant in the peripartum period, as an attenuation of behavioural and neuroendocrine stress responses has been described during pregnancy and lactation. At this time, there is an increase in brain prolactin receptor expression and binding, and an increase in hypothalamic prolactin gene expression. In the absence of a selective prolactin receptor antagonist, complementary approaches including chronic intracerebral infusion of prolactin, and antisense targeting of the long form of the brain prolactin receptor were used to investigate the actions of prolactin. The hypothesis of a brain prolactin system activated in the peripartum period which contributes to the adaptive changes in stress responsiveness in order to support reproductive functions is strongly emphasised.
本综述聚焦于催乳素，其作为调节大脑情绪和神经内分泌应激反应的潜在候选物质。特别地，我们总结了在雌性和雄性大鼠中，大脑催乳素受体介导抗焦虑作用的证据，以及对下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴反应性和神经垂体催产素系统的抑制作用的证据。大脑催乳素系统的这些生理功能在围产期尤其重要，因为在怀孕和哺乳期间，行为和神经内分泌应激反应有所减弱。此时，大脑催乳素受体的表达和结合增加，下丘脑催乳素基因表达也增加。在缺乏选择性催乳素受体拮抗剂的情况下，采用了包括长期脑内注射催乳素以及针对大脑催乳素受体长形式的反义靶向等补充方法来研究催乳素的作用。文中强烈强调了围产期激活的大脑催乳素系统有助于应激反应性的适应性变化以支持生殖功能这一假说。
