Control of hormone release during lactation
- PMID: 361330
Control of hormone release during lactation
Abstract
PIP: The hormonal aspects of lactation are discussed with reference to findings from animal studies. Both lactation and the specific stimulus of suckling are physiological phenomena involving hormones from both the anterior and the posterior lobes of the pituitary gland. In women and animals, complex hormonal changes occur during gestation, some contributing to development of mammary tissue enabling it to synthesize milk. Progesterone and estrogens are present in large amounts during pregnancy and reach peak levels near the end of pregnancy. Optimal breast development depends on other hormones also. Prolactin is the most important hormone for the actual initiation of lactation postpartum. It is, however, the fall in estrogen and progesterone levels once the fetus and placenta are delivered which gives the final stimulus to lactation. Suckling stimulates the nerve ends in the nipple area of the breast, causing increased milk production. Suckling and the presence of prolactin probably account for the reduced fertility observed during the lactation period. Emotional problems will interfere with the milk ejection reflex. Additionally, combination estrogen/progestin OCs (oral contraceptives) cause a reduction in the quantity of milk produced.
Similar articles
-
Endocrinology of milk production.Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2005 Aug;29(2):241-58. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2005.03.006. Epub 2005 Apr 7. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2005. PMID: 15876512 Review.
-
The influence of prolactin secretion on human lactation.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1975 May;40(5):764-73. doi: 10.1210/jcem-40-5-764. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1975. PMID: 805159
-
Hormones and human milk.Endocrinol Exp. 1983 Oct;17(3-4):359-70. Endocrinol Exp. 1983. PMID: 6418520 Review.
-
Hormones, mammary growth, and lactation: a 41-year perspective.J Dairy Sci. 2000 Apr;83(4):874-84. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(00)74951-4. J Dairy Sci. 2000. PMID: 10791805
-
Variation among species in the endocrine control of mammary growth and function: the roles of prolactin, growth hormone, and placental lactogen.J Dairy Sci. 1986 Mar;69(3):886-903. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(86)80479-9. J Dairy Sci. 1986. PMID: 3519707 Review.
Cited by
-
Synergistic effect between LH and estrogen in the acceleration of cumulus expansion via GPR30 and EGFR pathways.Aging (Albany NY). 2020 Oct 28;12(20):20801-20816. doi: 10.18632/aging.104029. Epub 2020 Oct 28. Aging (Albany NY). 2020. PMID: 33113510 Free PMC article.
-
Social Network Plasticity of Mice Parental Behavior.Front Neurosci. 2022 Jun 7;16:882850. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.882850. eCollection 2022. Front Neurosci. 2022. PMID: 35747212 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Breastfeeding and the patient's perspective.Abdom Radiol (NY). 2023 May;48(5):1629-1636. doi: 10.1007/s00261-022-03791-z. Epub 2023 Jan 10. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2023. PMID: 36625897 Review.
-
Estrogen receptor signaling mechanisms.Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 2019;116:135-170. doi: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2019.01.001. Epub 2019 Feb 4. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 2019. PMID: 31036290 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Role of sex hormones in the modulation of cholangiocyte function.World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2010 Jun 15;1(2):50-62. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i2.50. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2010. PMID: 21607142 Free PMC article.