Reproductive actions of prolactin mediated through short and long receptor isoforms.
Prolactin (PRL) is a polypeptide hormone with a wide range of physiological functions, and is critical for female reproduction. PRL exerts its action by binding to membrane bound receptor isoforms broadly classified as the long form and the short form receptors. Both receptor isoforms are highly expressed in the ovary as well as in the uterus. Although signaling through the long form is believed to be more predominant, it remains unclear whether activation of this isoform alone is sufficient to support reproductive functions or whether both types of receptor are required. The generation of transgenic mice selectively expressing either the short or the long form of PRL receptor has provided insight into the differential signaling mechanisms and physiological functions of these receptors. This review describes the essential finding that both long and short receptor isoforms are crucial for ovarian functions and female fertility, and highlights novel mechanisms of action for these receptors.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI-49503, USA. Electronic address: Sangeeta@hc.msu.edu.
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Sangeeta Devi
Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y Diagnóstico (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775 6to piso, C1405BCK Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rivadavia 1917, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: halperin.julia@maimonides.edu.
Julia
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Halperin
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011388:Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin
Corpus luteum; Endothelial cells; Ovary; Prolactin; Prolactin receptor; Reproduction