Reproductive actions of prolactin mediated through short and long receptor isoforms

• Published in: Molecular and cellular endocrinology Vol. 382; no. 1; pp. 400 - 410
• Main Authors: Sangeeta Devi, Y., Halperin, Julia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 25.01.2014
• Subjects: Activation; Animals; Binding; Corpus luteum; Endothelial cells; Females; Fertility; Hormones; Humans; Models, Biological; Ovary; Prolactin; Prolactin - biosynthesis; Prolactin - metabolism; Prolactin receptor; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Receptors; Receptors, Prolactin - metabolism; Reproduction; Reproduction - physiology; Signal Transduction; Transgenic; IGFBP1; GH; α2M; HSD17B-7; GALT; 20α-HSD; VEGF; dPRL; DUPD1; PRL; MAPK; PRLR; Endothelial cells; Ovary; STAT; Reproduction; PRAP; Prolactin; Corpus luteum; FRET; PL; JAK2; Prolactin receptor
• ISSN: 0303-7207; 1872-8057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.09.016

•Independent signaling pathways of short form of prolactin receptor are proposed.•Prolactin is important but not essential for follicular development.•An essential role of short form in vascularization and survival of corpus luteum is proposed.•Cooperative and dominant negative actions of short and long form are highlighted. 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.