May have a role in embryonic development. It is likely to provide a growth stimulus to target cells in maternal and fetal tissues during the development of the embryo at mid-gestation. May play a role during wound healing and in the hair follicle cycle as a growth factor and/or an angiogenesis factor. May play a role in microvilli formation and cell proliferation of neuroblastoma cells. Expressed in placenta and hair follicles, with highest expression levels detected in the outer root sheath and no expression detected in bulb (PubMed:11316781). Expressed in placenta, skin wounds, keratinocytes and weakly in embryonic fibroblasts (PubMed:10537154, PubMed:11316781, PubMed:16876275). Expressed in brain, cerebellum and in Neuro-2a cell line (PubMed:16876275). Not detected in liver, kidney, ovary, pituitary gland and brain (PubMed:3859868). Expressed during hair follicle morphogenesis, with highest expression levels detected at late anagen stage of the hair follicle cycle (PubMed:11316781). Expressed in developing brain from embryo to adult (PubMed:16876275). In placenta, detected at 8 dpc, peaks at 10 dpc and declines thereafter (PubMed:10537154). N-glycosylated and sialylated. Belongs to the somatotropin/prolactin family. Prl2c3 and Prl2c4 have previously been regarded as different proteins, but they seem to be products of the same gene.