Prolactin (Noun)
Meaning
Gonadotropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary; in females it stimulates growth of the mammary glands and lactation after parturition.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Prolactin levels typically increase in women during pregnancy to prepare the breasts for milk production after childbirth.
- Elevated prolactin can disrupt the normal secretion of other hormones in the body, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
- The primary effect of prolactin in females is lactation, stimulating the mammary glands to produce milk in response to nursing.
- Women's bodies typically begin producing prolactin during the second trimester of pregnancy in preparation for breastfeeding.
- During breastfeeding, the baby's suckling stimulates the hypothalamus to release prolactin, which in turn maintains milk production.