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Prolactin and the Prolactin Receptor

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Transgenics in Endocrinology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

In mammals, prolactin is both an explicit inducer of mammary-gland development and lactation, and an integrator of multiple physiological adaptations during the post-mating phase of the reproductive cycle. These general features of the physiology of mammalian prolactin appear to have evolved from the effects of prolactin on parental physiology and osmoregulation in nonmammalian vertebrates. Recent application of mouse genetic technologies to studies of prolactin have clarified several controversial concepts, and provided systems for studying basic prolactin biology and clinical questions in areas such as pituitary tumors, infertility, breast cancer, and prostate neoplasia. This chapter focuses primarily on results from mouse genetic experiments after a basic introduction to the biology and pathobiology of prolactin signaling.

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Authors
  1. Nelson D. Horseman PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pathology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Martin M. Matzuk MD, PhD

  2. Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Chester W. Brown MD, PhD

  3. Departments of Pathology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    T. Rajendra Kumar PhD

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© 2001 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Horseman, N.D. (2001). Prolactin and the Prolactin Receptor. In: Matzuk, M.M., Brown, C.W., Kumar, T.R. (eds) Transgenics in Endocrinology. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-102-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-102-2_11

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9640-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-102-2

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