Prolactin

Question 1

What kind of hormone is prolactin?

Answer 1

A long chain polypeptide hormone

Question 2

Where is prolactin produced?

Answer 2

Anterior pituitary gland by the lactotrophs

Question 3

Which cells produce prolactin?

Answer 3

Lactotrophs

Question 4

Which hormones is prolactin similar to?

Answer 4

Growth hormone
Human placental lactogen
(These are all long chain polypeptides)

Question 5

Which hormone stimulates lactotroph growth?

Answer 5

Oestrogen

Question 6

How does the hypothalamus influence prolactin secretion?

Answer 6

It is predominately inhibitory

Question 7

What is the main neurohormone to inhibit prolactin?

Answer 7

Dopamine

Question 8

Which hormones inhibit prolactin?

Answer 8

Dopamine and somatostatin

Question 9

What factors increase prolactin secretion?

Answer 9

Thyroid releasing hormone
Oestrogen
Pregnancy
Lactation (suckling)
Opioids
Dopamine d2 antagonists
Sleep stress hypoglycaemia, exercise

Question 10

On which xsome is prolactin located?

Answer 10

Xsome 6

Question 11

Primary functions of prolactin

Answer 11

Breast development

Lactogenesis

Question 12

Which hormones does prolactin inhibit?

Answer 12

Testosterone and oestrogen

Question 13

Which pathologies lead to an increase in prolactin?

Answer 13

Pituitary tumour, hypothyroidism, chronic renal and liver failiure

Question 14

Which drugs inhibit prolactin secretion?

Answer 14

Dopamine agonists

Question 15

What kind of drug is aripiprazole and how does it affect prolactin production?

Answer 15

Dopamine agonist used in Parkinson’s disease, it inhibits prolactin secretion

Question 16

What is verapamil?

Answer 16

A calcium channel blocker used to control blood pressure

Question 17

What does verapamil do to prolactin production?

Answer 17

It increases it

Question 18

Which hormone causes milk ejection reflex?

Answer 18

Oxytocin

Question 19

When do prolactin levels reach their peak in breastfeeding?

Answer 19

30 mins after onset of suckling

Question 20

At which point of the day are prolactin levels at their highest?

Answer 20

Evening and sleeping

Question 21

How many amino acids make up prolactin?

Answer 21

198

Question 22

How might an epileptic seizure effect prolactin levels?

Answer 22

They rise

Question 23

What is the molecular weight of prolactin?

Answer 23

24000 daltons

Question 24

What is the effect of metoclopramide on prolactin secretion?

Answer 24

It stimulates prolactin secretion (dopamine antagonist)

Question 25

What is the effect of haloperidol on prolactin secretion?

Answer 25

Stimulates (dopamine antagonist)

Question 26

What is the effect of chlorpromazine on prolactin?

Answer 26

Stimulates

Question 27

What is the effect of diazepam on prolactin?

Answer 27

Stimulates

Question 28

What is the effect of domperidone on prolactin production?

Answer 28

Stimulates

Question 29

Where is prolactin produced?

Answer 29

Anterior pituitary gland

Question 30

Which hypothalamic nuclei influence prolactin release?

Answer 30

The arcuate nucleus inhibits prolactin by releasing dopamine | The paraventricular nucleus stimulates prolactin by releasing thryrotropin releasing hormone

Question 31

How does the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus influence prolactin release?

Answer 31

It releases thyrotropin releasing hormone which stimulates prolactin release from the lactotropes of the anterior pituitary gland

Question 32

Impact of oestrogen on prolactin release

Answer 32

Inhibits arcuate nucleus release of dopamine and directly stimulates the lactotropes to release prolactin

Question 33

Which cells in the breast does prolactin act on?

Answer 33

alveolar cells in the lobules - to stimulate formation of milk proteins and stimulation of channels for ions and electrolytes, IgA, cholesterol, vitamins etc.

Question 34

Which type of immunoglobulin is found in breast milk?

Answer 34

IgA

Question 35

Stimulants of prolactin production

Answer 35

Oestrogen Breast feeding/suckling Pregnancy TRH

Question 36

What is the impact of oestrogen on prolactin in pregnancy

Answer 36

Stimulates prolactin production but inhibits its effect on the aveolar cells, when oestrogen levels drop after pregnancy, the prolactin can act on the aveolar cells of the breast lobules to produce milk

Question 37

What impact does bromcriptine have on prolactin production?

Answer 37

Inhibitory

Question 38

What impact does carbergoline have on prolactin production?

Answer 38

Inhibitory

Question 39

What impact does metoclopramide have on prolactin production?

Answer 39

Stimulatory

Question 40

What impact does domperidone have on prolactin production?

Answer 40

Stimulatory

Question 41

What kind of drug is bromocriptine?

Answer 41

A dopamine agonist

Question 42

What is bromocriptine used for?

Answer 42

Treatment of acromegaly, hyperprolactinaemia, Parkinson's disease

Question 43

What kind of drug is carbergoline?

Answer 43

Dopamine receptor agonist

Question 44

What is carbergoline used for?

Answer 44

Parkinson's disease, lactate suppression, hyperprolactinaemia

Question 45

What kind of drug is metoclopramide?

Answer 45

Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist

Question 46

What kind of drug is domperidone?

Answer 46

Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist

Question 47

What part of the breast does prolactin develop?

Answer 47

The alveolar tissue

Question 48

What is the effect of prolactin on oestrogen and testosterone?

Answer 48

Inhibitory

Question 49

Which hormone stimulates prolactin production by the anterior pituitary gland?

Answer 49

Thyroid releasing hormone

Question 50

What is the effect of hypothyroidism on prolactin levels?

Answer 50

Hypothyroidism causes an increase in TRH and therefore an increase in prolactin leading to hyperprolactinaemia