Human prolactin

Abstract

This paper summarizes current knowledge of the regulation of prolactin secretion, physiological changes of prolactin levels, metabolic effects of prolactin, changes in prolactin secretion in various disease states, drugs affecting prolactin secretion and the possible role of prolactin in breast cancer. These advances in the knowledge of human prolactin have come about because of the purification of the hormone from pituitary extracts and the development of sensitive and specific methods of assay.