The short prolactin receptor predominates in endothelial cells of micro- and macrovascular origin.

Background: Controversial reports on prolactin receptors (PRL-R), the long and short form, on endothelial cells (EC) may be explained by the choice of EC derived from the micro- and macrovascular bed of either endocrine and non-endocrine organs.

Methods: We studied here PRL-R expression in organs [bovine corpus luteum (CL), umbilical vein, aorta] and in organ-derived EC cultures.

Results: In the intact CL, both PRL-R forms were present at mRNA and protein level throughout the oestrous cycle stages.