Physiology AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
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News Physiol Sci 3: 172-175, 1988;
1548-9213/88 $5.00
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News in Physiological Sciences, Vol 3, 172-175, Copyright © 1988 by International Union of Physiological Sciences

ARTICLES

Suckling-Induced Rise in Prolactin: Mediation by Prolactin-Releasing Factor From Posterior Pituitary

N Ben-Jonathan, JF Hyde and I Murai

The suckling-induced rise in prolactin, an anterior pituitary hormone that is essential for the maintenance of lactation, is mediated by the posterior pituitary. The posterior pituitary contains prolactin-releasing factor (PRF), a small peptide that is distinct from known prolactin secretagogues. The hypothalamus, the site of all known releasing hormones, has only little PRF activity. Pituitary stalk secretion abolishes the PRF activity in the posterior pituitary, indicating that it originates in the hypothalamus, perhaps as a biologically inactive precursor. The chemical identity of PRF is unknown but it appears to play an important role during lactation and might also be involved in the pathology of hyperprolactinea.




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