What is Prolactin?

Prolactin is  polypeptide hormone that is responsible for

1. lactation,
2. breast development,
3. hundreds of other actions needed to maintain homeostasis.

• The chemical structures prolactin is similar to the structure of growth hormone and placental lactogen hormone.

Production of prolactin is controlled by two main hormones: 

1. Dopamine,
2. Estrogen.

These hormones send a message to  pituitary gland primarily indicating whether to begin or incease the production of prolactin.

Dopamine restrains production of prolactin, while estrogen increases it.