Recombinant human prolactin (rhPRL) was administered to huPBL-SCID mice to determine its effects on human immunologic reconstitution and function. The huPBL-SCID mice were given 10 microg i.p. injection of rhPRL every other day for a total of 10 injections after huPBL were transferred. The results demonstrated that rhPRL improved the engraftment of lymphocytes into thymus, lymph nodes and spleens, showing that the cellularities of these organs increased although the cellularities tended to vary depending on the donor. The amounts of human T cells (HLA-ABC+/CD3+) increased greatly in thymus (14.2 folds), spleen (4.16 folds) and lymph nodes (40.18 folds) after rhPRL injections. The amounts of human B cells (HLA-ABC+/CD19+) also increased greatly in lymph nodes (42.5 folds) and spleen (5.78 folds). The lymph node cells from the rhPRL-treated huPBL-SCID mice were more sensitive to PHA stimulation ([3H] thymidine incorporation). The supernatant of PHA-stimulated PBL from rhPRL-treated huPBL/SCID chimerism contained more cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-2). The natural cytotoxicity against human sensitive target cells, K562 cells, from spleen and bone marrow of hPBL/SCID chimerism was significantly enhanced by rhPRL administration. The lymph node cells were stimulated with LPS in vitro for 3 days and the lymphocytes from the rhPRL-treated huPBL-SCID mice were more sensitive to mitogen stimulation. Both serum total IgG level and IgM level of rhPRL-treated huPBL/SCID chimerism were increased, and even without DT-rechallenge the base line of DT-specific IgG was elevated after rhPRL treatment in huPBL-SCID mice. Thus, rhPRL stimulation promotes reconstitution of human immune system in huPBL-SCID mice.