noun
definition
A peptide gonadotrophic hormone secreted by the pituitary gland; it stimulates growth of the mammary glands and lactation in females.
Examples of prolactin in a Sentence
Of all the pituitary endocrine cell types the cells which produce the hormone prolactin are the most highly plastic cell population.
When present these are usually due to a small (2mm) tumor that is secreting excess prolactin in the pituitary gland.
Therefore, bromocriptine's ability to suppress both prolactin and circulating prolactin might lead to suppression of the immune system and autoimmune disease.
Bromocriptine and cabergoline Bromocriptine (eg Parlodel) and cabergoline (Dostinex) reduce the output from the brain of a hormone called prolactin.
A full clinical trial was conducted to establish whether suppressing prolactin would render testosterone more effective as a contraceptive in men.
Too much prolactin can cause malfunction of the reproductive organs.
The baseline mean plasma prolactin level was nearly doubled in the drug responders, suggesting reduced brain dopamine activity.
Maximum peak concentrations are obtained within 1 to 1.5 hours; serum prolactin decreases within 2 hours and is maximally decreased at 8 hours.
Domperidone increases prolactin secretion indirectly, by interfering with the action of dopamine.
During lactation, the secretion of prolactin can entail a poor prognosis to ovarian stimulation.
Without the hormone prolactin, lactation would not occur.
During pregnancy prolactin helps to increase breast mass but does not cause lactation because it is inhibited by the hormone progesterone, which is made by the placenta.
During the first week after birth, prolactin levels in breastfeeding women fall about 50 percent.
If a mother does not breastfeed, prolactin levels usually reach the levels of the nonpregnant state by seven days postpartum.
Bromocriptine-Also known as Parlodel, it is a dopamine receptor agonist used to treat galactorrhea by reducing levels of the hormone prolactin and is also used to treat Parkinson's disease.
The act of breastfeeding itself causes a surge of prolactin.
There are a number of causes of hypogonadism, including stress, elevated prolactin levels, and several genetic disorders.
Other tests may include a thyroid level; sperm count; prolactin level (milk hormone); blood tests for anemia, chemistries, and iron; and genetic analysis.
After milk "comes in" or rapidly increases in volume, lactation is no longer driven by the hormone prolactin.