Prolactin and parenting in the pigeon family.
The relationship between plasma prolactin and: crop growth; incubation; brooding; and feeding young in Columbiformes is reviewed. There is a good parallel between changes in crop growth and plasma prolactin fluctuations during the breeding cycle. Prolactin does not play a role in the initiation of incubation, though it can maintain the response. Toward the end of breeding, a decline in prolactin precedes the decline in incubation (of infertile eggs) or brooding (of young), while exogenously administered prolactin can prolong the response. There is no evidence of a necessary relationship between prolactin secretion and parental feeding of young, as this behavior can precede and outlast the secretion of the hormone during breeding.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D010856:Columbidae / Q000502:physiology*; D003426:Crop, Avian / Q000254:growth & development; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone