The role of prolactin in the development of liver cirrhosis

Abstract

In patients with cirrhosis, prolactin (PRL) is often increased, which can be related to the disturbed metabolism of estrogens. According to recent results, PRL presumably acts as a regeneration factor and is related to growth-associated genes (e.g.: c-myc, c-fos, c-jun) like in the liver. To study the function of PRL in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis, we investigated the prolactin-receptor (PRL-R) and the expression of c-fos and c-jun during the development from healthy to fibrotic and cirrhotic liver in rats under normal and hypoprolactinemic conditions.