催乳素在传统靶腺之外的作用和意义

Role of prolactin outside traditional target glands

催乳素作为一种主要由垂体催乳素细胞分泌的多肽类激素,最初以其在乳腺中调节和维持泌乳的作用而被人们所熟知。除了乳腺这个传统作用的靶腺外,由于催乳素与催乳素受体特异性结合后可引起生物体内一系列的反应,而催乳素受体广泛存在于其他多种器官和组织细胞中,因此,催乳素会作用于多个系统器官并参与疾病的发生、发展过程中。本综述总结了催乳素在乳腺以外的器官、组织及其相关疾病中的作用,包括消化系统、生殖系统、免疫系统、神经系统和内分泌系统,旨在更加全面的了解催乳素在人体中的生理和病理生理功能。

Prolactin(PRL),a polypeptide hormone secreted by pituitary prolactin cells,was first known for its role in regulating and maintaining lactation in the mammary gland.The specific binding of prolactin and prolactin receptor results in a series of reactions in organisms.Prolactin receptor is widely found in many other organs and tissue cells.These make PRL act on multiple organs and be involved in the occurrence and development of diseases,not only the mammary gland,which is the traditional target gland of prolactin.This review aims to understand the physiological and pathophysiological functions of prolactin in humans more comprehensively.This review summarizes the roles of prolactin in non-mammary tissues and related diseases,including the digestive system,reproductive system,immune,nervous system,and endocrine system.