Chemicals and Drugs

Prolactin

A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate.

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

8 entry terms
  • Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary
  • Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary
  • Mammotropin
  • PRL (Prolactin)
  • Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic
  • Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic
  • Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone
  • Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

30 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/blood: consider also HYPERPROLACTINEMIA

MeSH Hierarchy

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NLM Classification

WK 515

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Prolactin. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D011388. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D011388
  2. Prolactin. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolactin
  3. Prolactin. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66590068