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Central and Peripheral Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Regulation pp 527–536Cite as

Neurochemical Basis for the Vasoactive Action of Prolactin

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 109))

Abstract

The ancient hormone prolactin (PRL) has undergone a modern renaissance with the discovery of its broad spectrum of action. There is evidence that all adenohypophyseal hormones, except PRL, were committed early in vertebrate philogenesis to the control of a single or at most a few physiological processes (Nicoll, 1974). On the contrary, PRL did not undergo this fate of early specialization but was bound to the control of a wide variety of different physiological mechanisms. In fact, Nicoll and Bern (1972) have listed 85 distinct effects of the hormone. These are far in excess of the reported actions of all other adenohypophyseal hormones together. The number to-date of the recognized effects of PRL is even higher due to the recent discovery of specific actions of the hormone on organs other than its classical target tissues. These recently discovered actions are both central and peripheral. Central actions are those on the brain, i.e. neurochemical and behavioral actions (Drago, 1982; Drago et al., 1984). Among the peripheral actions of PRL that have newly been recognized, the most interesting is probably that concerning the cardiovascular system. In this respect, PRL may be a factor physiologically involved in the regulation of heart function and blood pressure.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacology, University of Catania Medical School, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Filippo Drago & Umberto Scapagnini

Authors
  1. Filippo Drago
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  2. Umberto Scapagnini
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, Albany, New York, USA

    A. Magro

  2. University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    W. Osswald

  3. Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    D. Reis

  4. Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    P. Vanhoutte

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© 1986 Plenum Press, New York

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Drago, F., Scapagnini, U. (1986). Neurochemical Basis for the Vasoactive Action of Prolactin. In: Magro, A., Osswald, W., Reis, D., Vanhoutte, P. (eds) Central and Peripheral Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Regulation. NATO ASI Series, vol 109. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9471-0_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9471-0_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-9473-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-9471-0

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