Prolactin
Prolactin is produced in cells of the front lobe of the pituitary gland. During pregnancy, prolactin prepares the female mammary gland for the approaching production of milk. Together with estrogens and progesterone, it stimulates the differentiation of the mammary gland tissue during this period.
However, the high concentrations of estrogens and progesterone present during pregnancy prevent milk binding that starts too early. After birth, the concentration of estrogens and progesterone drops, so that prolactin, together with other factors, can trigger the production of breast milk. Standard values for prolactin are between 100 and 600 μE/ml.Values that require control are between 600 and 1000 μE/ml, values > 1000 μE/ml are clearly too high.
It should be noted that various drugs can raise the prolactin level. These include metoclopramide, which is used to treat nausea and vomiting. Prolactin levels of > 2000 μE/ml can occur when taking metoclopramide. It is also important that the blood for determining prolactin levels is not taken until 1-2 hours after getting up at the earliest, otherwise the increased secretion during the night can lead to high prolactin levels.
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