The Involvement of Prolactin in Stress-Related Disorders

Agata Faron-Górecka (), Katarzyna Latocha, Paulina Pabian, Magdalena Kolasa, Iwona Sobczyk-Krupiarz and Marta Dziedzicka-Wasylewska
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Agata Faron-Górecka: Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
Katarzyna Latocha: Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
Paulina Pabian: Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
Magdalena Kolasa: Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
Iwona Sobczyk-Krupiarz: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
Marta Dziedzicka-Wasylewska: Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Kraków, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: The most important and widely studied role of prolactin (PRL) is its modulation of stress responses during pregnancy and lactation. PRL acts as a neuropeptide to support physiological reproductive responses. The effects of PRL on the nervous system contribute to a wide range of changes in the female brain during pregnancy and the inhibition of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis. All these changes contribute to the behavioral and physiological adaptations of a young mother to enable reproductive success. PRL-driven brain adaptations are also crucial for regulating maternal emotionality and well-being. Hyperprolactinemia (elevated PRL levels) is a natural and beneficial phenomenon during pregnancy and lactation. However, in other situations, it is often associated with serious endocrine disorders, such as ovulation suppression, which results in a lack of offspring. This introductory example shows how complex this hormone is. In this review, we focus on the different roles of PRL in the body and emphasize the results obtained from animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Keywords: prolactin; stress; neuropsychiatric disorders; hyperprolactinemia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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