Potential roles of decidual prolactin in early pregnancy

The prolactin and growth hormone families: Pregnancy-specific hormones/cytokines at the maternal-fetal interface

“…Mesometrial and antimesometrial decidua are morphologically and functionally distinct. In primates, PRL, the sole member of the primate PRL family, is expressed in the uterine decidua [23,25]. As introduced above, lactotroph- and decidual cell-specific PRL expression are under the control of two physically separated promoters situated within the 5' flanking region of the prolactin gene and are responsive to distinct regulatory signals [18,23].…”

“…Human decidual PRL may accumulate in the decidual extracellular matrix due to its association with heparin containing molecules [69] and its targets include, intrauterine (e.g. modulatory effects on uterine gland development and function, angiogenesis, trophoblast cell development and function, and immune regulation), amniotic, and possibly fetal tissues [23,25]. There is an intriguing parallel between the intrauterine effects of decidual PRL and those of ruminant PLs on histiotrophic nutrient delivery.…”

The Endocrinology of Human Pregnancy and Parturition

“…19 Under the influence of rising estrogen levels by the placenta, maternal pituitary lactotrophs increase prolactin production leading to concentrations in maternal serum of 200 to 300 ng/mL at term. 22,23 The Insulin-Like Growth Factor Superfamily Decidual prolactin production results in high amniotic fluid concentrations, peaking at 16 to 22 weeks of gestation and then declining until term 21 ; decidual prolactin may have roles in endometrial implantation, amniotic fluid generation, and electrolyte balance.…”

DNA polymorphism of 5′ flanking region of prolactin gene and its association with litter size in sheep

“…Prolactin is an anterior pituitary polypeptide hormone involved in many reproductive pathways and is essential for reproductive performance (Krasnow et al 1990;Gellersen et al 1994;Wu et al 1995;Jabbour & Critchley 2001;Kruger et al 2003). This action is mediated by its receptor.…”