The Role of Prolactin Signaling in Beta-Cell Adaptation to Stress

The ability of β cells. to adapt to metabolic stressors is important in preventing diabetes. Our lab has previously shown that prolactin receptor (Prlr) signalling is required for β-cell adaptation to insulin resistance of pregnancy, mainly by regulating β-cell proliferation. Whether Prlr signalling is important for β-cell adaptation to physiologic stresses other than pregnancy is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether Prlr signalling is required for β-cell adaptation to the cumulative stresses of pregnancies followed by exposure to a high fat diet (HFD), a commonly observed scenario in humans.