Effect of prolactin on ovarian steroidogenesis

This review summarizes evidence that prolactin (PRL) is involved directly in the regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis. The scope of this paper will be limited to two areas. The first area involves the regulation of the corpus luteum function and the second the effect of PRL on steroidogenesis during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle. Cyclic changes of plasma PRL levels and the ovarian receptors which bind PRL have been observed during the oestrous cycle of domestic animals. The luteotropic effect of PRL and its failure is also presented. PRL may exert a physiological effect on follicle steroidogenesis but its effect depends on the level of follicle maturation. The effect of PRL treatment on estrogen production by follicular cells in vivo and in vitro was studied. The results of many papers indicate suppression of estrogen secretion by the direct action of PRL at the ovarian level. However, there is abundant evidence, that PRL is involved directly in regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis, the precise mechanism remains to be discovered.