Number of dopamine neurons predicts prolactin levels in two inbred mouse strains.

Mice of the BALB/cJ strain have more dopamine neurons than mice of the CBA/J strain. We now report that BALB/cJ mice have less circulating and pituitary prolactin than CBA/J mice, a relationship expected from the difference in tuberoinfundibular dopamine neuron number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]