Pattern of increase in circulating prolactin levels during human gestation.
Serum prolactin concentrations, determined serially at weekly intervals from the fifth week of gestation, increase in an approximately linear pattern. It is suggested that in human gestation the increase in prolactin secretion is related to supramaximal estrogen augmentation at all times and is a functional reflection of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of pituitary lactotrophs.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D011388:Prolactin