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Lactogenic hormone activity was first observed in bovine pituitary extracts by Stricker and Griiter in 1928, working in Bouin's laboratory in Strasbourg. Since that time prolactin has been shown to exist in anterior pituitary extracts of almost all vertebrate species investigated. Although its biology was extensively studied in many mammalian species, the existence of prolactin in the human was generally doubted, despite the positive evidence produced by such researchers as Pasteels. This can partly be explained by the fact that human growth hormone isolated in 1961, is itself a potent lactogen, in contrast to nonprimate growth hormones, and is present in the normal human pituitary in much greater amounts than prolactin. As a result there was a lag of nearly 10 years until prolactin was unanimously accepted as a hormone of the human pituitary, separate from human growth hormone. In 1970 new bioassay techniques permitted the demonstration of prolactin bioactivity in the serum of postpartum women and galactorrhea patients, and chromatographic methods led to the isolation and purification of human prolactin allowing the establishment of a specific radioimmunoassay for this hormone. This opened the road to the understanding of prolactin physiology and pathophysiology in the human, which has revolutionized clinical neuroendocrinology and reproductive endocrinology. Particularly hyperprolactinemia has turned out to be one of the most common endocrine syndromes.
Sommario
1 Prolactin; Synthesis, Fate and Actions.- 1.1 Molecular Structure.- 1.2 Synthesis, Storage and Secretion by the Pituitary.- 1.3 Extrapituitary Sites of Prolactin Synthesis.- 1.4 Prolactin in the Body Fluids; Metabolic Clearance.- 1.5 Prolactin Receptors.- 1.6 The Spectrum of Actions.- 2 Control of Prolactin Secretion.- 2.1 Physiologic Aspects.- 2.2 Pharmacologic Aspects.- 2.3 References (also for Chap. 1).- 3 Physiology and Pharmacology of Human Lactation.- 3.1 Preparation of Mammary Tissue for Lactation: Hormonal Mechanisms.- 3.2 Maternofetal Correlations; Concentration of Lactogens in a Three-Compartment System Throughout Pregnancy.- 3.3 Biologic Effects of Lactogenic Hormones During Pregnancy.- 3.4 Nyctohemeral PRL Rhythm During Pregnancy and Effect of TRH and Dopaminergic Blockade.- 3.5 Mechanisms of Milk Secretion (Lactogenesis); Maintenance of Lactation (Lactopoiesis).- 3.6 Impact of Lactation on Fertility.- 3.7 Psychosomatic Aspects of Human Lactation.- 3.8 Postpartum Hypoprolactinemia.- 3.9 Suppression of Puerperal Lactation.- 3.10 References.- 4 Nontumoral Hyperprolactinemia.- 4.1 Tests of Lactotrope Cell Function.- 4.2 Factors Influencing Basal Prolactin Secretion in the Clinical Practice.- 4.3 Physiopathology of Functional Hyperprolactinemia.- 4.4 Control of Lactotrope Cell Function in Pathologic Hyperprolactinemia.- 4.5 Incidence of Hyperprolactinemia.- 4.6. Inappropriate Prolactin Secretion: A Classification Under Consideration of Etiologic Factors.- 4.7 Clinical and Biochemical Effect of Inappropriate Prolactin Secretion.- 4.8 Natural History of Galactorrhea Syndromes.- 4.9 Medical Therapy of Nontumorous Prolactin-Dependent Conditions.- 4.10 Effect of Other Ergot Derivatives on Prolactin Secretion.- 4.11 Effect of Nonergot Dopamine Agonists on Prolactin Secretion.- 4.12 References.- 5 Pituitary Prolactinomas.- 5.1 Morphology of the Prolactin Secreting Cell.- 5.2 Pathophysiology of Prolactinomas.- 5.3 Clinical Signs and Diagnosis of Hyperprolactinemia Due to Prolactinomas.- 5.4 Therapy of Prolactinomas.- 5.5 Pregnancy and Prolactinoma.- 5.6 References.
