Is Prolactin Mitogenic for Mammary Epithelium?

Prolactin administration to mature virgin mice leads to proliferation of epithelium of the mammary gland. In organ culture, prolactin is not mitogenic, but insulin and insulin-free serum are. These observations are reconciled by the finding that insensitive epithelium is sensitized to insulin and/or serum by prolactin treatment in vivo. Thus, it appears that prolactin acts indirectly as a mitogen by rendering the cells susceptible to the afore-mentioned mitogens.