Abstract
This chapter discusses about prolactin, which is the specific hypophysiotropin that promotes lactation in the pregnant mammal. Prolactin is distinguished from other pituitary tropins by its inhibitory regulation originating in the central nervous system, that is, the hypothalamus, by lack of a reciprocal peripheral feedback mechanism; by its diverse effects among the vertebrates, including growth-promoting actions in several species; and by its close association with growth hormone. It is probably present in the hypophysis of all vertebrates, but it is more plentiful in some species and at certain stages of the life cycle than at others. It is not soluble in any fat solvent. Prolactin-like activity in urine has been demonstrated both by pigeon crop sac assay and by observation of the effect of urine on the hormonally-primed mammary gland of the immature hypophysectomized male rat. Present evidence indicates that mainly one anterior pituitary hormone prolactin—and perhaps also somatropin hormone (STH)—is involved in the development of the mammary gland. A most interesting development during the past few years is the growing evidence that prolactin and STH in combination can induce full mammary lobulo-alveolar growth in the apparent absence of ovarian hormones in the rat.
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