Prolactin receptor antagonists

Most prolactin (PRL) in the circulation is produced by the pituitary. However, a wide variety of traditional target tissues of the hormone have also been shown to produce their own prolactin. The amount produced per cell is low, but may well be sufficient for autocrine/paracrine activity. Although dopamine agonists allow one to study the target tissue effects of pituitary PRL, other agents, such as PRL receptor (PRLR) antagonists, are needed to analyze autocrine/paracrine loops. With PRLR antagonists, it should be possible to dissect out the role of extrapituitary prolactin in both the normal physiology, and the pathophysiology of various tissues. In tissues where the locally produced PRL may promote disease, such antagonists have the potential to be important therapeutics.