Rafique Ahmad Khan, Bilquees Akhtar, Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Sulaman Khan, Shahnaz Javed Khan, Shahnaz javed Khan.
Lactation and serum prolactin.
Pak Postgrad Med J Jan ;18(2):60-3.

Prolactin belongs to the family of structurally similar somatomamotropic hormones like growth hormone (GH). It is secreted mainly by the pituitary Lactotrophs from the posterolateral aspect of adenohypophysis as a single polvpeptide. The secretion of prolactin from anterior pituitary is mainly under tonic inhibition from dopaminergic cells in hypothalamus. Nursing is potent stimulus to prolactin secretion. The suckling stimulus from the baby is the most powerful signal to increase prolactin secretion. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship to serum Prolactin levels with lactational amenorrhea. Methods: The serum Prolactin levels were determined in 30 mensturating lactating females (Controls) and 30 amenorrheic lactating females (Study group) by using the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results: The mean values of prolactin levels were significantly increased (P<0.001) in amenorrhic lactating female than those of control group (43.06 ± 14.1 ng/ml versus 19.70 + 6.3 ng/ml). The increased serum Prolactin levels are directly related to lactational amenorrhea. Conclusion: We found that augmented serum Prolactin levels are directly related to lactational amenorrhea.

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