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OESTROGEN, an essential physiological regulator of reproductive function¹, controls lactotroph proliferation and prolactin release². The neuropeptide galanin co-localizes to the lactotroph³, but its physiological function is largely unknown. Pituitary galanin expression is extremely sensitive to the oestrogen status of the animal. A marked elevation occurs during pregnancy and lactation⁴, and exogenous 17β-oestradiol can cause a 4,000-fold increase in messenger RNA levels⁵. Here we report that galanin is secreted by a minority of lactotrophs and is essential for the regulation of basal and vasoactive-intestinal-polypeptide-stimulated prolactin release. Hyperoestrogenization increases the number of galanin-secreting cells and the resulting increase in basal prolactin release is completely abolished by treatment with galanin anti-serum. Galanin is a potent lactotroph growth factor and galanin-immunoneutralization …