Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Kraków, Poland.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 13;20(4):3257. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043257.
The most important and widely studied role of prolactin (PRL) is its modulation of stress responses during pregnancy and lactation. PRL acts as a neuropeptide to support physiological reproductive responses. The effects of PRL on the nervous system contribute to a wide range of changes in the female brain during pregnancy and the inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. All these changes contribute to the behavioral and physiological adaptations of a young mother to enable reproductive success. PRL-driven brain adaptations are also crucial for regulating maternal emotionality and well-being. Hyperprolactinemia (elevated PRL levels) is a natural and beneficial phenomenon during pregnancy and lactation. However, in other situations, it is often associated with serious endocrine disorders, such as ovulation suppression, which results in a lack of offspring. This introductory example shows how complex this hormone is. In this review, we focus on the different roles of PRL in the body and emphasize the results obtained from animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
催乳素（PRL）最重要和广泛研究的作用是在妊娠和哺乳期间调节应激反应。PRL 作为一种神经肽，支持生理生殖反应。PRL 对神经系统的影响导致妊娠期间女性大脑的广泛变化和下丘脑-垂体轴的抑制。所有这些变化有助于年轻母亲在行为和生理上适应生殖成功。PRL 驱动的大脑适应对于调节母性行为和幸福感也至关重要。高催乳素血症（PRL 水平升高）是妊娠和哺乳期间的一种自然而有益的现象。然而，在其他情况下，它通常与严重的内分泌紊乱有关，如排卵抑制，导致缺乏后代。这个介绍性的例子说明了这种激素是多么复杂。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍了 PRL 在体内的不同作用，并强调了从神经精神疾病动物模型中获得的结果。
