Prolactin and blood vessels: a comparative endocrinology perspective

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Comparative Physiology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Prolactin (PRL) is a key hormone in mammals, essential for lactation and exhibiting diverse functions across vertebrates.
• Blood vessels are identified as significant targets of PRL, mediating many of its hormonal actions.
• PRL influences angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) and also yields vasoinhibins, peptides with anti-angiogenic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effects of prolactin and vasoinhibins on blood vessels in mammals.
• To explore if similar vascular mechanisms underlie prolactin's functions in lower vertebrates.
• To highlight the importance of protease regulation in balancing PRL's vascular effects.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of prolactin's vascular effects in mammals.
• Comparative analysis of prolactin's functions across vertebrate species.
• Discussion of proteolytic cleavage of prolactin and its implications.

Main Results:

• PRL promotes angiogenesis, while its cleavage products, vasoinhibins, inhibit it.
• Regulation of proteases that cleave PRL is a key mechanism for controlling vascular dynamics.
• Opposing vascular actions of PRL suggest a complex regulatory role.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the dual vascular effects of PRL is crucial for its diverse biological roles.
• Comparative studies across vertebrates can elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of PRL action on vasculature.
• Targeting PRL cleavage proteases may offer a method to modulate blood vessel growth and regression.