Prolactin and related peptides in pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Hormone Biology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Pregnancy significantly alters pituitary prolactin production and lactotroph proliferation, influenced by oestrogens.
• Enlargement of prolactinomas during pregnancy poses clinical challenges, especially with larger tumors.
• Prolactin is also produced by the endometrium and decidua, though its regulation and function in these tissues are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted role of prolactin during pregnancy.
• To highlight the impact of pregnancy and hormonal changes on prolactin secretion and related pituitary conditions.
• To discuss the expanding family of prolactin-related hormones and their potential functions in gestation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on prolactin and pregnancy.
• Analysis of hormonal regulation of prolactin secretion.
• Examination of prolactin-related protein families and their expression patterns.

Main Results:

• Oestrogens and pregnancy profoundly affect pituitary prolactin levels and lactotroph cell growth.
• Pregnancy-associated prolactinoma enlargement is a clinical concern, particularly for large tumors.
• A growing family of prolactin-related hormones, including placental lactogens, are identified with diverse gestational expression patterns.

Conclusions:

• Prolactin plays a complex role in pregnancy, involving both pituitary and local endometrial/decidual production.
• The expanding prolactin-hormone family suggests significant, yet largely uncharacterized, physiological roles in placental function, maternal metabolism, and fetal development.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the specific functions of these related hormones during gestation.