what is prolactin release

Full Answer

What triggers the release of prolactin?

The following medications may cause the prolactin level to increase:

• Medications for high blood pressure such as calcium channel blockers
• Medications for depression such as SSRI antidepressants and tricyclic antidepressants
• Medications for gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn
• Medications for vomiting and nausea
• Opiates that are derived from opium

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Which hormone inhibits release of prolactin?

Prolactin plays an important role in maternal behavior. In general, dopamine inhibits prolactin but this process has feedback mechanisms. Elevated levels of prolactin decrease the levels of sex hormones—estrogen in women and testosterone in men.

Where is Prolactin released from?

Prolactin is synthesized in pituitary cells called lactotropes. Its release into the circulatory system from the anterior pituitary gland causes milk synthesis and secretion into the alveoli of the mammary glands in response to the suckling stimulus.

What causes high prolactin?

Why Do You Have High Prolactin Levels?

1. Prolactinoma A prolactinoma is a tumor in the pituitary gland that secretes prolactin. ...
2. Prescription Drugs Certain prescription drugs can increase prolactin levels. Drugs that block dopamine, for example, will cause a rise in prolactin levels. ...
3. Other Causes

What happens when prolactin is released?

Prolactin promotes the growth of a certain type of breast tissue called mammary alveoli, which are the components of the mammary gland where the production of milk occurs. Prolactin also stimulates the breast alveolar cells to create milk components, including: Lactose (the carbohydrate component of milk).

What triggers prolactin release?

The major physiological stimulus to prolactin secretion is suckling. Prolactin levels also rise during the latter half of pregnancy, an effect that is thought to be mediated by oestradiol. Like growth hormone, prolactin secretion is also increased during sleep and by stress and exercise.

What is the main function of prolactin?

Prolactin contributes to hundreds of physiologic functions, but the two primary responsibilities are milk production and the development of mammary glands within breast tissues. Prolactin promotes the growth of mammary alveoli, which are the components of the mammary gland, where the actual production of milk occurs.

What hormone does prolactin release?

This prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) releases PRL when administered in low doses but is not as potent as TRH. PrRP apparently is widely distributed in the brain and can modulate many unrelated physiological events including lactation, stress, body weight homeostasis, feeding behavior, and gastric motility.

What happens if prolactin is high?

Too much prolactin reduces the production of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Too much prolactin also can prevent the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle (anovulation) in females. In males, too much prolactin also can lead to decreased sperm production. Bone loss (osteoporosis).

What causes high prolactin in female?

Prolactin levels are normally high for pregnant women and new mothers. Levels are normally low for nonpregnant women and for men. If prolactin levels are higher than normal, it often means there is a type of tumor of the pituitary gland, known as a prolactinoma. This tumor makes the gland produce too much prolactin.

Can prolactin cause weight gain?

High levels of prolactin can also result in weight gain and neuropsychological disturbances. The size of the tumor correlates with the amount of prolactin secreted. Larger tumors can cause mass effects by compression of local structures.

What affects prolactin?

Causes of Abnormal Prolactin Levels Prolactinoma (a benign tumor in your pituitary gland that produces too much prolactin) Diseases affecting the hypothalamus(the part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland) Anorexia(an eating disorder) Drugs that are used to treat depression, psychosis, and high blood pressure.

Can stress cause high prolactin levels?

Stress is also an important physiologic cause of hyperprolactinemia, and its clinical significance is still being explored. This review will provide an overview of prolactin physiology, the role of stress in prolactin secretion, as well as the general clinical approach to hyperprolactinemia.

What happens if prolactin is high in female?

Symptoms include irregular or absent menstrual periods, infertility, menopausal symptoms (hot flashes and vaginal dryness), and, after several years, osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of the bones). High prolactin levels can also cause milk discharge from the breasts.

When is prolactin the highest?

The prolactin level is highest about 30 minutes after the beginning of the feed, so its most important effect is to make milk for the next feed (20). During the first few weeks, the more a baby suckles and stimulates the nipple, the more prolactin is produced, and the more milk is produced.

How much prolactin is normal?

Normal Results The normal values for prolactin are: Men: less than 20 ng/mL (425 µg/L) Nonpregnant women: less than 25 ng/mL (25 µg/L) Pregnant women: 80 to 400 ng/mL (80 to 400 µg/L)

What foods can increase prolactin levels?

Eating apricots and dates can increase prolactin, which is the hormone that tells your body to produce milk. Apricots contain essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.

Can stress cause high prolactin levels?

Stress is also an important physiologic cause of hyperprolactinemia, and its clinical significance is still being explored. This review will provide an overview of prolactin physiology, the role of stress in prolactin secretion, as well as the general clinical approach to hyperprolactinemia.

When is prolactin the highest?

The prolactin level is highest about 30 minutes after the beginning of the feed, so its most important effect is to make milk for the next feed (20). During the first few weeks, the more a baby suckles and stimulates the nipple, the more prolactin is produced, and the more milk is produced.

How does prolactin surge during pregnancy?

The prolactin surges of early pregnancy are terminated in response to the increased secretion of placental lactogens from the developing conceptus. 362,363 The placental lactogens are structurally similar to prolactin and act in an identical manner, crossing into the brain and activating prolactin receptors on NEDA neurons to cause a sustained increase in dopamine release 159 and thereby inhibit the secretion of prolactin from the maternal pituitary. 362,364,365 Two forms of placental lactogen have been identified in rats, placental lactogen-I (rPL-I) and -II (rPL-II). 366 rPL-I is present from day 8 of pregnancy and peaks in the circulation around day 13, 367 while rPL-II is first detected around day 10 of pregnancy, peaking near parturition. 368 Both variants bind to the prolactin receptor 367 and thus activate the short-loop feedback system inhibiting prolactin secretion. 364 As rPL-I is present earlier, it is most likely the signal that terminates early-pregnancy prolactin surges, 369 while rPL-II maintains this inhibition of prolactin secretion during the remainder of pregnancy. Thus, from the time of cessation of the prolactin surges until very near term, NEDA neuronal activity is high and maternal prolactin secretion is suppressed. 345 Because placental hormone secretion is not under the inhibitory control of the hypothalamus, this placental lactogen secretion essentially bypasses the maternal regulatory feedback pathways to provide high levels of prolactin receptor activation throughout the second half of pregnancy. Thus, at day 10 of pregnancy, there is a change in the pattern of prolactin receptor activation, from a phasic pattern of activation provided by twice-daily prolactin surges during early pregnancy to the chronic stimulation induced by placental lactogen ( Figure 12.6 ). This chronic secretion of placental lactogen continues until term.

When does prolactin peak?

Prolactin release peaks 15 minutes after the end of a GTCS or of a temporal lobe complex partial seizure, reflecting the propagation of ictal discharges into the hypothalamus.

How does opioid peptide affect PRL secretion?

In experimental animals, administration of opioid peptides results in an increase in PRL secretion, likely mediated via activation of the mu opioid receptor. 137,138 It appears that the effect of opioids on PRL secretion is indirect and is mediated via a decrease in DA release in the tuberoinfundibular DA pathway. 139

What is the role of PRL in the brain?

PRL secretion is under the inhibitory control of dopamine, which is largely produced by the tuberoin­fundibular (TIDA) cells and the hypothalamic tuberohypophyseal dopaminergic system. 75,76 Dopamine reaches the lactotrophs via the hypothalamic pituitary portal system and inhibits PRL secretion by binding to the type 2 dopamine (D 2) receptors on pituitary lactotrophs. 77 PRL, in turn, participates in negative feedback to control its release by increasing tyrosine hydroxylase activity and thereby dopamine synthesis in the TIDA neurons. 76 In PRL-deficient animals, dopamine is decreased in the median eminence. 78 Mice lacking the D 2 receptor develop hyperprolactinemia and lactotroph proliferation. 77 Many other factors modulate PRL secretion, although their physiologic or clinical relevance remains in large part unresolved. Factors other than dopamine inhibit PRL secretion, including endothelin-1 and TGF-β1, which act as paracrine PRL inhibitors, 79,80 and calcitonin, which may be derived from the hypothalamus. 81 Several substances act as PRL-releasing factors. Basic FGF and epidermal growth factor induce PRL synthesis and secretion. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) stimulates PRL synthesis via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). 82 A hypothalamic prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) produced in the hypothalamus acts through a specific receptor 83 in normal pituitary glands and in a subset of PRL-secreting tumors. 84 TRH stimulates PRL secretion. 85 Estrogen stimulates PRL gene transcription and secretion, 86 explaining why women have higher PRL levels, particularly during the periovulatory menstrual phase. 87 The physiologic roles of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), neurotensin, substance P, bombesin, and cholecystokinin (CCK) in regulating human PRL secretion are unresolved. 76

How does hypothalamic regulation of PRL secretion work?

Hypothalamic regulation of PRL secretion is primarily mediated via inhibitory factors (predominantly DA), as evidenced by an increase in PRL secretion and systemic PRL levels in patients who suffered pituitary stalk damage. 99 In addition, several releasing factors may have a role in modulating PRL secretion ( Fig. 3.1 ).

What is the effect of dopamine on prolactin secretion?

The predominant effect of dopamine released from tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) nerve terminals in the median eminence is a tonic inhibition of prolactin secretion caused by the activation of dopamine D2 receptors on lactotrophs. Centrally, activation of dopamine D2/D3 receptors increases neurochemical estimates of TIDA neuronal activity, resulting in a decrease in prolactin secretion. Conversely, central activation of dopamine D1 receptors decreases TIDA neuronal activity, and thus increases prolactin secretion.

Why does melatonin decrease prolactin secretion?

Increasing concentrations of melatonin, such as those that occur during the night or under conditions of decreased day length (i.e., short photoperiod), decrease prolactin secretion due to the interaction of the indoleamine with MEL 1A receptors in the pars tuberalis. This interaction is thought to alter the secretion of a seasonal, peptidergic prolactin-releasing factor known as tuberalin.

Where is prolactin produced?

In humans, prolactin is produced both in the front portion of the pituitary gland ( anterior pituitary gland) and in a range of sites elsewhere in the body. Lactotroph cells in the pituitary gland produce prolactin, where it is stored and then released into the bloodstream. Human prolactin is also produced in the uterus, immune cells, brain, ...

What is the name of the hormone that makes prolactin?

Alternative names for prolactin. In everyday language, prolactin is referred to as the ‘milk hormone’; PRL; luteotropic hormone; LTH.

How is prolactin controlled?

One of the main regulators of the production of prolactin from the pituitary gland is the hormone called dopamine, which is produced by the hypothalamus, the part of the brain directly above the pituitary gland. Dopamine restrains prolactin production, so the more dopamine there is, the less prolactin is released. Prolactin itself enhances the secretion of dopamine, so this creates a negative feedback loop.

What happens if I have too much prolactin?

The condition of having too much prolactin circulating in the blood is called hyperprolactinaemia. The most common causes of hyperprolactinaemia include pregnancy, medications that reduce dopamine action in the body, thyroid underactivity and benign pituitary tumours (known as prolactinomas). Symptoms can include the unwanted production of milk, disturbances to the menstrual cycle and symptoms due to oestrogen deficiency (in women) or testosterone deficiency (in men). The vast majority of patients with a prolactinoma can be treated successfully using drugs which mimic the action of dopamine. The most commonly used is cabergoline.

What hormones increase prolactin production?

Oestrogen is another key regulator of prolactin and has been shown to increase the production and secretion of prolactin from the pituitary gland. Studies have shown small increases in prolactin in the blood circulation of women during stages of their reproductive cycle where oestrogen levels are at their highest.

Which hormones decrease prolactin?

In addition to dopamine and oestrogen, a whole range of other hormones can both increase and decrease the amount of prolactin released in the body, with some examples being thyrotropin-releasing hormone, oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormone.

Can low prolactin cause insufficient milk production?

A decrease in the amount of prolactin secreted can lead to insufficient milk being produced after giving birth . Most people with low prolactin levels do not have any specific medical problems, although preliminary evidence suggests they might have reduced immune responses to some infections.

What is the secretion of prolactin?

It is now clear, however, that prolactin secretion is under tonic inhibitory control, principally by dopamine released from the hypothalamus. If the inhibitory effect of dopamine is removed then secretion of prolactin occurs (Fig. 4.9 ). Of less physiological significance, there are also several factors which stimulate prolactin release, the most potent of which is thyrotropin releasing hormone, TRH. There is a short negative feedback loop involving prolactin itself causing an increase in hypothalamic dopamine levels.

What hormones stimulate prolactin secretion?

Unlike for other pituitary hormones, a physiological specific prolactin-releasing factor (PRF) has yet to be identified. A number of hypothalamic factors stimulate prolactin secretion, including TRH, oxytocin, vasopressin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), angiotensin II, NPY, galanin, substance P, bombesin-like peptides (gastrin-releasing peptide, neuromedin B and C), and neurotensin [179,187], but none is a prolactin-specific hypothalamic factor and their demonstrated action on prolactin is inconsistent.

What are the two postulates that lead to the development of prolactinomas?

Two postulates on the initiating circumstances leading to the development of prolactinomas include (1) Intrinsic pituitary abnormalities and (2) Hypothalamic dysfunction. The two postulates have had numerous papers in support or against. In postulates regarding hypothalamic dysfunction, excessive prolactin releasing factors and/or lack of adequate secretion of prolactin inhibitory factors such as dopamine have been considered. Sadly, at this time, no definite evidence exists.

What are the stimuli that trigger PRL release?

7-27 ). The most important of the putative PRFs are TRH, oxytocin, and VIP, but vasopressin, angiotensin II , NPY , galanin, substance P , bombesin-like peptides, and neurotensin can also trigger PRL release under different physiologic circumstances. 238 TRH has already been discussed. In humans there is an imperfect correlation between pulsatile PRL and TSH release, suggesting that TRH cannot be the sole physiologic PRF under basal conditions. 251

Which neuron is stimulated by acetylcholine, glutamate, and opioids?

Multiple neural systems regulate dopaminergic neurons and PIF and PRF neurons, and subsequently regulate prolactin secretion. TIDA neurons are stimulated by acetylcholine, glutamate, and opioids, and are inhibited by stress, high levels of glucocorticoids, and histamine. PRF neurons in the paraventricular nucleus are stimulated by serotonin. TIDA neurons are also controlled by light, constituting the major neuroendocrine mechanism underlying the prolactin circadian rhythm. Since both the pituitary and the hypothalamus express dopamine receptors, most neuroleptics that inhibit dopamine secretion also increase prolactin levels [195].

Which pituitary hormone is inhibited by the hypothalamus?

The hypothalamus influences the lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary to increase prolactin production by the action of prolactin-releasing factor (PRF) or to inhibit prolactin production through the action of prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF) ( Fig. 30.15B ). However, prolactin is the pituitary hormone that is tonically inhibited; in this sense, the inhibitory pathway predominates ( Fig. 30.15B, bold arrow ). The dominance of the inhibitory pathway is interrupted during pregnancy, birth, and nursing. After birth, the suckling reflex stimulates further PRF and promotes prolactin production, which ensures further milk production. At the cessation of breastfeeding, the PIF pathway again dominates, the suckling reflex is absent, and milk production stops; this is usually accompanied by a decrease in breast size.

Where is VIP synthesized?

VIP and peptide histidine-isoleucine, or its human homologue peptide histidine methionine, are synthesized from neurons located in the paraventricular nucleus and also influence pituitary prolactin secretion. Both stimulate prolactin release in rats and in vitro. pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide, a VIP-like hypothalamic peptide, dose-dependently stimulates pituitary prolactin in both male and nonsuckled lactating female rats [179].

What is prolactin in biology?

PubMed search. n/a. n/a. Wikidata. View/Edit Human. Prolactin, also known as lactotropin, is a protein best known for its role in enabling mammals (and birds), usually females, to produce milk. It is influential in over 300 separate processes in various vertebrates, including humans.

Where is prolactin secreted?

Prolactin is secreted from the pituitary gland in response to eating, mating, estrogen treatment, ovulation and nursing. It is secreted heavily in pulses in between these events. Prolactin plays an essential role in metabolism, regulation of the immune system and pancreatic development.

What is the key regulator of prolactin production?

A key regulator of prolactin production is estrogens that enhance growth of prolactin-producing cells and stimulate prolactin production directly, as well as suppressing dopamine . In decidual cells and in lymphocytes the distal promoter and thus prolactin expression is stimulated by cAMP.

What are the two types of prolactins in fish?

Many fish have variants prolactin A and prolactin B. Most vertebrates, including humans, also have the closely related somatolactin. In humans, three smaller (4, 16, and 22 kDa) and several larger (so-called big and big-big) variants exist.

How long does prolactin stay in your system?

It is used to stimulate lactation in animals. The biological half-life of prolactin in humans is around 15–20 minutes. The D 2 receptor is involved in the regulation of prolactin secretion, and agonists of the receptor such as bromocriptine and cabergoline decrease prolactin levels while antagonists of the receptor such as domperidone, metoclopramide, haloperidol, risperidone, and sulpiride increase prolactin levels. D 2 receptor antagonists like domperidone, metoclopramide, and sulpiride are used as galactogogues to increase prolactin secretion in pituitary gland and induce lactation in humans.

Why does prolactin rise after surgery?

Levels can rise after exercise, high-protein meals, minor surgical procedures, following epileptic seizures or due to physical or emotional stress. In a study on female volunteers under hypnosis, prolactin surges resulted from the evocation, with rage, of humiliating experiences, but not from the fantasy of nursing.

When was the first IRP for human prolactin?

Previous standards use other ratios. The first International Reference Preparation (or IRP) of human Prolactin for Immunoassay was established in 1978 (75/504 1st IRP for human prolactin) at a time when purified human prolactin was in short supply. Previous standards relied on prolactin from animal sources.

What happens during a prolactin levels test?

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

What is a prolactin levels test?

A prolactin (PRL) test measures the level of prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is a hormone made by the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain. Prolactin causes the breasts to grow and make milk during pregnancy and after birth. Prolactin levels are normally high for pregnant women and new mothers. Levels are normally low for nonpregnant women and for men.

What is a prolactin test used for?

What is it used for? A prolactin levels test is most often used to: Diagnose a prolactinoma (a type of tumor of the pituitary gland) Help find the cause of a woman's menstrual irregularities and/or infertility. Help find the cause of a man's low sex drive and/or erectile dysfunction.

What medications raise prolactin levels?

Certain medicines can raise prolactin levels. These include birth control pills, high blood pressure medicine, and antidepressants.

What does it mean when your prolactin is high?

If prolactin levels are higher than normal, it often means there is a type of tumor of the pituitary gland, known as a prolactinoma. This tumor makes the gland produce too much prolactin. Excess prolactin can cause the production of breast milk in men and in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. In women, too much prolactin can also cause ...

How do you know if you have excess prolactin?

Periods that have stopped completely before the age of 40. This is known as premature menopause. Infertility. Breast tenderness.

Can prolactinomas cause ED?

In men, it can lead to lower sex drive and erectile dysfunction (ED). Also known as impotence, ED is the inability to get or maintain an erection. Prolactinomas are usually benign (noncancerous). But left untreated, these tumors can damage surrounding tissues. Other names: PRL test, prolactin blood test.

What is prolactin hormone?

Prolactin is a protein hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that was originally named for its ability to promote lactation in response to the suckling stimulus of hungry young mammals . We now know that prolactin is not as simple as originally described. Indeed, chemically, prolactin appears in a multiplicity of posttranslational forms ranging from size variants to chemical modifications such as phosphorylation or glycosylation. It is not only synthesized in the pituitary gland, as originally described, but also within the central nervous system, the immune system, the uterus and its associated tissues of conception, and even the mammary gland itself. Moreover, its biological actions are not limited solely to reproduction because it has been shown to control a variety of behaviors and even play a role in homeostasis. Prolactin-releasing stimuli not only include the nursing stimulus, but light, audition, olfaction, and stress can serve a stimulatory role. Finally, although it is well known that dopamine of hypothalamic origin provides inhibitory control over the secretion of prolactin, other factors within the brain, pituitary gland, and peripheral organs have been shown to inhibit or stimulate prolactin secretion as well. It is the purpose of this review to provide a comprehensive survey of our current understanding of prolactin's function and its regulation and to expose some of the controversies still existing.

What is the function of prolactin?

Prolactin: structure, function, and regulation of secretion. Prolactin is a protein hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that was originally named for its ability to promote lactation in response to the suckling stimulus of hungry young mammals. We now know that prolactin is not as simple as originally described.

Does dopamine inhibit prolactin?

Finally, although it is well known that dopamine of hypothalamic origin provides inhibi tory control over the secretion of prolactin, other factors within the brain, pituitary gland, and peripheral organs have been shown to inhibit or stimulate prolactin secretion as well.

Is prolactin a simple hormone?

We now know that prolactin is not as simple as originally described. Indeed, chemically, prolactin appears in a …. Prolactin is a protein hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that was originally named for its ability to promote lactation in response to the suckling stimulus of hungry young mammals. We now know that prolactin is not as simple as ...

What causes prolactin to be removed?

Chest injury or irritation (for example, scars, shingles, or even a bra that’s too tight) Also , kidney disease, liver failure, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (a hormone imbalance that affect s ovaries) all can affect the body’s ability to remove prolactin.

What does it mean when your prolactin levels are below normal?

If your prolactin levels are below the normal range, this could mean your pituitary gland isn’t working at full steam. That’s known as hypopituitarism. Lower levels of prolactin usually do not need medical treatment.

What is the name of the tumor in the pituitary gland that produces too much prolactin?

Prolactinoma ( a benign tumor in your pituitary gland that produces too much prolactin) Diseases affecting the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland) Anorexia (an eating disorder) Drugs that are used to treat depression, psychosis, and high blood pressure.

What is a PRL test?

Medically Reviewed by Sabrina Felson, MD on October 12, 2019. A prolactin (PRL) test measures how much of a hormone called prolactin you have in your blood. The hormone is made in your pituitary gland, which is located just below your brain. When women are pregnant or have just given birth, their prolactin levels increase so they can make breast ...

What is the normal prolactin level for pregnant women?

Pregnant females: 10 to 209 ng/mL. If Your Prolactin Levels Are High. If your value falls outside the normal range, this doesn’t automatically mean you have a problem. Sometimes the levels can be higher if you’ve eaten or were under a lot of stress when you got your blood test.

How to lower prolactin levels?

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medicine to lower prolactin levels. If you have a prolactinoma, the goal is to use medicine to reduce the size of the tumor and lower the amount of prolactin.

How long does it take for a prolactin test to show results?

After a few days, you’ll get the results of your prolactin test in the form of a number. The normal range for prolactin in your blood are: Males: 2 to 18 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) Non pregnant females: 2 to 29 ng/mL.

What is prolactin in physiology?

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone that is responsible for lactation, breast development, and hundreds of other actions needed to maintain homeostasis. The chemical structures prolactin is similar to the structure of growth hormone and placental lactogen hormone.

What is the role of prolactin in breast development?

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone that is responsible for lactation, breast development, and hundreds of other actions needed to maintain homeostasis. The chemical structures prolactin is similar to the structure of growth hormone and placental lactogen hormone.

How long does it take for prolactin to drop after breastfeeding?

If the mother does not nurse her baby, prolactin levels fall to non-pregnant levels after 1 to 2 weeks.

How much prolactin is in a male?

In males, serum prolactin levels range from 2 to 18 ng/ml, in females 2 to 30 ng/ml, and during the third trimester of pregnancy, 10 to 210 ng/ml. In cases of prolactinomas, the serum prolactin level is typically greater than 200 mg/mL.

What is the family of prolactin?

Together, they form the "prolactin/growth hormone/placental lactogen" family, which is characterized by a conserved helix bundle protein composition. All hormones in this family derive from a common ancestral gene. Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone that is responsible for lactation, breast development, and hundreds of other actions needed ...

Why do lactotrophs increase during pregnancy?

The number of lactotrophs will increase during pregnancy in response to the physiological need to develop breast tissues and to prepare for milk production. It should be noted that the increase in lactotrophs cells is not accompanied by an increase in angiogenesis.

Which hormones are released by the hypothalamus and have activity in modulating lactotophic activity?

Factors that stimulate production, upregulate prolactin gene transcription while factors that inhibit secretion downregulate prolactin gene transcription. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and dopamine are both released by the hypothalamus and have activity in modulating lactotophic activity.

What is the function of prolactin?

Prolactin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, a small structure in the brain which secretes other hormones. Prolactin's primary function is to enhance breast development and initiate lactation (breastfeeding). Prolactin levels are normally elevated in pregnant and nursing women.

What is the goal of high prolactin?

The goal of high prolactin treatment is to return levels to normal. Depending on the cause, this can be done with medication or surgery.

What causes high prolactin levels?

High prolactin levels can have a number of causes. This includes diseases of the kidneys, thyroid, pituitary gland, and others.

How to check prolactin levels?

Going forward, once prolactin levels are in normal ranges, your doctor may recommend you undergo regular monitoring of prolactin levels by doing blood tests. Occasionally, an MRI may also be needed to check the size of the tumor and look for growth.

How long do you have to wait to eat for a second prolactin test?

If the test shows high prolactin levels, your healthcare provider may want to repeat it. For the second test, you will need to avoid food for at least eight hours.

What is the name of the antidepressant that is a tricyclic?

Tricyclic antidepressants, like Anafranil (clomipramine) and Norpramin (desipramine)

How to measure prolactin?

Prolactin can be measured with a blood test. Some outside factors can affect the results.

Overview

Functions

Regulation

Structure and isoforms

Prolactin receptor

Diagnostic use

Units and unit conversions

Reference ranges