Glycosylated isoforms of prolactin in the turkey hen are exclusively N-linked

Abstract

It is now well established that prolactin (PRL) is present in all vertebrates and multiple isoforms exist which have different binding and biological characteristic. In the turkey, three isoforms of PRL, one non glycosylated and two glycosylated, have been isolated. Levels of PRL fluctuate during a reproductive cycle with low levels measured in the pituitary gland from sexually immature, out-of-lay and moulting hens, whereas increasing levels were measured during the egg laying period and highest levels were detected for hens which incubate eggs.[...