prolactin

pro·lac·tin

P0589300 (prō-lăk′tĭn)n. A pituitary hormone that stimulates and maintains the secretion of milk in mammals and also plays a role in metabolism and in modulation of the immune response.

prolactin

(prəʊˈlæktɪn) n (Biochemistry) a gonadotrophic hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. In mammals it stimulates the secretion of progesterone by the corpus luteum and initiates and maintains lactation. Also called: luteotrophin or luteotrophic hormone See also follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone

pro•lac•tin

(proʊˈlæk tɪn)

n. a pituitary hormone that in mammals stimulates milk production at parturition and in birds activates the crop for feeding the young. Also called luteotropin.

Thesaurus

Noun

prolactin - gonadotropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary; in females it stimulates growth of the mammary glands and lactation after parturitionlactogenic hormone, luteotropingonadotrophic hormone, gonadotrophin, gonadotropic hormone, gonadotropin - hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and placenta; stimulates the gonads and controls reproductive activitylactogen - any agent that enhances milk production

Translations

Prolactin

prolactin

[prō ′lak·tən] (biochemistry) A protein hormone produced by the adenohypophysis; stimulates lactation and promotes functional activity of the corpus luteum. Also known as lactogenic hormone; luteotropic hormone; mammary-stimulating hormone; mammogen; mammogenic hormone; mammotropin.

Prolactin

(also, lactogenic hormone), in mammals, a hormone that controls lactation.

Prolactin is a protein with a molecular weight of 23–24 × 10³. In 1969, C. Lee and his colleagues (USA) established the primary structure of prolactin in sheep; 198 radicals of 18 amino acids form a polypeptide chain with three internal disulfide (—S—S—) bonds, which must be preserved for hormonal activity. Prolactin is synthesized in special acidophilic cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland; its formation is controlled by a special substance that is produced in the hypothalamus. In women, the concentration of prolactin in the blood increases during pregnancy from 5–10 to 200 nanograms per milliliter; sucking during breast-feeding further stimulates the secretion of prolactin.

The mechanism of action of prolactin consists in binding with a specific receptor in the plasma membrane of the secretory alveolar cell, which results in the activation of the enzyme protein kinase and the biosynthesis of various types of ribonucleic acids (RNA); subsequently, the synthesis of milk proteins and their secretion into the ducts of the mammary gland is induced. Prolactin has also been found in males, although its functions are not clear.

In mammals, prolactin also promotes the formation of the maternal instinct; in some mammals, for example, rats and mice, prolactin promotes the functioning of the ovarian corpus luteum, which is the derivation of the term “luteotropic hormone,” the earlier name for prolactin.

In lower vertebrates, such as fish and amphibians, the functions of hormones analogous to prolactin are extremely varied; they control, for example, osmoregulation, water metabolism, skin pigmentation, and migration during the reproductive period.

REFERENCES

Sovremennye voprosy endokrinologii, issue 4. Moscow, 1972. Pages 30–34.
Lactogenic Hormones. Edited by G. E. Wolstenholme and J. Knight. Edinburgh-London, 1972.
Cowie, A. T. The Physiology of Lactation. London, 1971.

B. V. POKROVSKII

prolactin

[pro-lak´tin] a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that promotes the growth of breast tissue and stimulates and sustains milk production in postpartum mammals, and shows luteotropic activity in certain mammals. Called also lactogenic hormone and mammotropin.

pro·lac·tin (PRL),

(prō-lak'tin), [MIM*176760] A protein hormone of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis that stimulates the secretion of milk and possibly, during pregnancy, breast growth. Synonym(s): galactopoietic hormone, lactation hormone, lactogenic hormone, lactotropin, mammotropic factor, mammotropic hormone [pro- + L. lac, lact-, milk, + -in]

prolactin

(prō-lăk′tĭn)n. A pituitary hormone that stimulates and maintains the secretion of milk in mammals and also plays a role in metabolism and in modulation of the immune response.

prolactin

A gonadotropic hormone encoded by PRL on chromosome 6p22.2-p21.3 and secreted by the anterior pituitary, which in females stimulates mammary gland growth and lactation after childbirth.

pro·lac·tin

(PRL) (prō-lak'tin) A protein hormone of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis that stimulates the secretion of milk and possibly, during pregnancy, breast growth.
Compare: bioregulator
Synonym(s): lactogenic hormone. [pro- + L. lac,lact-, milk, + -in]

prolactin

One of the PITUITARY GLAND hormones. Prolactin stimulates the development and growth of the breasts (mammary glands) and helps to start and maintain milk production at the end of pregnancy.

prolactin

see LUTEOTROPHIC HORMONE.

Prolactin

A hormone that helps the breast prepare for milk production during pregnancy.Mentioned in: Pituitary Dwarfism

pro·lac·tin

(prō-lak'tin) [MIM*176760] Protein hormone of anterior lobe of hypophysis that stimulates secretion of milk and possibly, during pregnancy, breast growth. [pro- + L. lac,lact-, milk, + -in]

prolactin

pro·lac·tin

prolactin

pro•lac•tin

Prolactin

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Prolactin

REFERENCES

prolactin

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Synonyms for prolactin

noun gonadotropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary

Synonyms

Related Words