prolactin increase ageing

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“Little information exists regarding the role of prolactin in longevity. One study using NZB/NZW mice showed that prolactin administration shortened the life span of these mice whereas treatment with a prolactin antagonist (bromocriptine) prolonged the life span (McMurray et al., 1991; Walker et al., 1998). NZB/NZW mice exhibit many aspects of severe systemic lupus erythematosus and have non-characteristic short life spans even in the control animals. These treatments were initiated in this line of mice as a relatively strong association between hyperprolactinemia and the incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus in humans had been discovered (Walker et al., 2001). Therefore, the changes in life span using prolactin in this study are not truly reflective of the hormone longevity potential. A study by Flurkey and coworkers (2001) replaced prolactin with pituitary transplantation in Snell dwarf mice (which are prolactin, growth hormone and thyrotropin-deficient) and reported that fertility was restored and the enhanced longevity of the strain was maintained. A similar study by Bartke and coworkers using Ames dwarf mice found that prolactin replacement (via pituitary transplantation) somewhat shortened the life span of these long-living mutants (Bartke, personal communication).”