Klaudia Dynarowicz, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher and David Aebisher
Medical College of The University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów,Poland

Part of the book: The Biochemical Guide to Hormones

Abstract

Prolactin is a protein hormone located in the anterior pituitary gland. Prolactin is a pleiotropic hormone with complex expression regulation. Lactotroph cells in the pituitary gland produce prolactin, where it is stored and then released into the bloodstream. It acts as a cytokine and plays an important role in human immune responses. It affects the metabolism, functions of the immune system and the functioning of the central nervous system. Due to its multitasking nature, the correct physiology of this hormone is extremely important.

Keywords: prolactin, lactotroph cells, hypothalamus, chronic stress, liver disease, hypothyroidism

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