title: Extra-pituitary prolactin (PRL) and prolactin-like protein (PRL-L) in chickens and zebrafish.
abstract: It is generally believed that in vertebrates, prolactin (PRL) is predominantly synthesized and released by pituitary lactotrophs and plays important roles in many physiological processes via activation of PRL receptor (PRLR), including water and electrolyte balance, reproduction, growth and development, metabolism, immuno-modulation, and behavior. However, there is increasing evidence showing that PRL and the newly identified 'prolactin-like protein (PRL-L)', a novel ligand of PRL receptor, are also expressed in a variety of extra-pituitary tissues, such as the brain, skin, ovary, and testes in non-mammalian vertebrates. In this brief review, we summarize the recent research progress on the structure, biological activities, and extra-pituitary expression of PRL and PRL-L in chickens (Gallus gallus) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) from our and other laboratories and briefly discuss their potential paracrine/autocrine roles in non-mammalian vertebrates, which may promote us to rethink the broad spectrum of PRL actions previously attributed to pituitary PRL only.
authors: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors: Guixian
authors: G
authors: Bu
authors: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors: Xiaomeng
authors: X
authors: Liang
authors: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China. Electronic address: cdwyjhk@gmail.com.
authors: Yajun
authors: Y
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; C029702:prolactin-binding protein; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Chicken; Extra-pituitary; PRL; Pituitary; Prolactin-like protein; Zebrafish