Prolactin signals breast tissue to make milk.
Tissues and organs in the body receive signals on when and act through electrical impulses, neurotransmitters or hormones. Hormones are created by organs called glands. The pituitary gland creates all sorts of hormones that send signals to many parts of the body. One of the hormones is prolactin. A delicate balance in hormones must be kept for the body to work properly.
Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized organ that sits right below the brain and is the master gland. Ten hormones are produced by the anterior, posterior and intermediate lobe. The hormones control everything from growth to sexual development and kidney function. One of the hormones produces is prolactin.
Prolactin
Prolactin is produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It has several functions in the human body. It induces growth of the mammary glands. It also has a role in immune function in some mammals. Prolactin also signals mammary glands to produce milk. Any imbalance in the amount of prolactin may lead to malfunction of the tissues it acts upon.
Pituitary Tumors
Like any other organ in the body, cells of the pituitary gland can also grow and reproduce abnormally. Tumors of the pituitary gland lead to over-production of the gland's hormones. This excess in pituitary hormones also leads to a decrease in other hormones, through a negative-feedback action.
Prolactinoma
The non-cancerous tumor of the pituitary gland's cells that produce prolactin is a prolactinoma. Excess prolactin leads to an excess production of breast milk, or to an over-development of the mammary glands. In women, the excess prolactin may also cause infertility, irregular menstrual periods, and a loss of libido. Women who wish to become pregnant or are planning to do so must be carefully monitored and treated if they have a prolactinoma.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Simple blood tests and imaging studies can be done to detect excess prolactin or an enlarged pituitary, respectively. If the pituitary gland is found to have a tumor, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may help. In most cases, however, a simple course of treatment with dopamine-replacement drugs corrects the problem. A health care provider is the best person to diagnose and treat prolactinomas.
Tags: pituitary gland, mammary glands, excess prolactin, gland hormones, Pituitary Tumors, produced anterior
