Prolactin

Prolactin is a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary in pregnancy, sleep, lactation, stress, physical exercise and hypoglycaemia. It stimulates the growth of glandular tissue in the breast and is necessary to produce milk. Prolactin inhibits FSH and LH.

Dopamine usually inhibits the secretion of prolactin. TRH stimulates the production of prolactin.

Pathologically elevated prolactin is called hyperprolactinaemia, and decreased prolactin is called hypoprolactinaemia.