Which of the following hormones stimulates the production of milk in human females?
Option: 1
estrogen
Option: 2
progesterone
Option: 3
prolactin
Option: 4
oxytocin
Answers (1)
Lactation -
The mammary glands of the female undergo differentiation during pregnancy and start producing milk towards the end of pregnancy by the process called lactation.
During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone are secreted in large quantity either from corpus luteum or placenta.
Apart from these, the human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS) secreted by placenta also is responsible for the growth of breasts.
There is no lactation during pregnancy because progesterone level is high and it inhibits the release of prolactin.
After delivery, since the concentration of progesterone falls earlier than the estrogen, prolactin secretion starts and lactation commences in about 1-3 days.
During this phase, suckling is the most effective stimulus that brings about the secretion of prolactin.
Oxytocin causes the release of the milk from the mammary glands.
Human milk consists of water, organic and inorganic substances.
Its main constituents are fats, casein, lactose, mineral salts and vitamins.
The milk produced initially is called colostrum, which is rich in Iga antibody.