Hormonal Proteins and Peptides: Prolactin, Volume VIII focuses on the broad spectrum of biological activities of prolactin among the vertebrates. This book discusses the function of prolactin in stimulating crop milk formation in birds as well as in inducing incubation behavior in the ring dove. Organized into five chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the chemistry of prolactin and its role on normal mammary gland growth and function. This text then explores the prolactin effects in tumor induction and growth. Other chapters review the status of the evolutionary biology and comparative endocrinology of prolactin. This book discusses as well the nature of prolactin cells, the control of prolactin secretion, and the nature of the prolactins from various vertebrate sources. The final chapter considers the significant advances in gonadotropins, including prolactin, follitropin, relaxin, and lutropin. This book is a valuable resource for biologists, endocrinologists, zoologists, embryologists, physicians, and medical health professionals.
