prolactin
Mainly controlled by inhibition, i.e. damage to hypothalamus → increase in production
| Net effect: | mammary gland development and milk production |
|---|---|
| Secreted from | Anterior pituitary (synthesis: hypothalamus) |
| Stimulus | |
| Inhibition | Prolactin inhibitory hormone/dopamine |
| Site of action | Breasts |
| Action (function) | Milk production |
Because prolactin inhibitory hormone is kinda the same as dopamine, anything that changes dopamine will also affect prolactin
Hence:
- dopamine antagonists (e.g. antipsychotics) = more prolactin = galactorrhea, amenorrhea, gynaecomastia
- dopamine agonists = inhibits prolactin secretion (useful if this is pathologically increased, for example in acromegaly)