Sandy
Sorry the link to the article must not be working on your end, but no, no mention of prolactin in the article.
I don't know if it's "very effective" in repairing myelin, but progesterone (another natural substance) has also shown promise in remyelination.
Progesterone receptors: form and function in brain
Emerging data indicate that progesterone has multiple non-reproductive functions in the central nervous system
to regulate cognition, mood, inflammation, mitochondrial function, neurogenesis and regeneration, myelination and recovery from traumatic brain injury.
Progesterone: therapeutic opportunities for neuroprotection and myelin repair
Progesterone and its metabolites promote the viability of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Their neuroprotective effects have been documented in different lesion models, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), experimentally induced ischemia, spinal cord lesions and a genetic model of motoneuron disease. Progesterone plays an important role in developmental myelination and in myelin repair, and the aging nervous system appears to remain sensitive to some of progesterone's beneficial effects. Thus, the hormone may promote neuroregeneration by several different actions by reducing inflammation, swelling and apoptosis, thereby increasing the survival of neurons, and by promoting the formation of new myelin sheaths
Unfortunately, I have no idea if progesterone levels stay elevated during breast feeding but I certainly share your cynicism.
Luckily, progesterone is being pursued (outside the US) in a "non" immune mouse model of MS.
17beta-estradiol and progesterone prevent cuprizone provoked demyelination of corpus callosum in male mice
These data show that sex steroids can protect the brain from demyelination and stimulate remyelination. It appears that only the administration of both hormones is fully effective.
Anyone know if progesterone stays elevated during breast feeding?
Thanks
Sharon