Editing Prolactin cell (section)

{{short description|Pituitary gland cell which produces the hormone prolactin}}
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{{Infobox cell
| Name        = Prolactin cell
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| Image       =
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| Precursor   =
| System      = [[Endocrine system]]
| Location = [[Anterior pituitary]] gland
| Function = [[Prolactin]] production
}}

A '''prolactin cell''' (also known as a '''lactotropic cell''', '''epsilon acidophil''', '''lactotrope''', '''lactotroph''', '''mammatroph''', '''mammotroph''') is a [[cell (biology)|cell]] in the [[anterior pituitary]] which produces [[prolactin]] (a [[peptide hormone]]) in response to hormonal signals including [[dopamine]] (which is inhibitory), [[thyrotropin-releasing hormone]] and [[estrogen]] (especially during pregnancy), which are stimulatory. Prolactin is responsible for actions needed for [[body homeostasis]], the development of breasts, and for [[lactation]].<ref name="Al-Chalab_2024">{{cite book | vauthors = Al-Chalabi M, Bass AN, Alsalman I | chapter = Physiology, Prolactin |date=2024 | title = StatPearls | chapter-url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507829/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=29939606 }}</ref> The inhibitory effects of dopamine override the stimulatory effects of TRH in non-pregnant, non-lactating sexually mature females. Depending on the sex of the individual, prolactin cells account for 20% - 50% of all cells in the anterior pituitary gland.<ref name = "Kucka_2013">{{cite journal | vauthors = Kucka M, Bjelobaba I, Tomić M, Stojilkovic SS | title = The role of cyclic nucleotides in pituitary lactotroph functions | journal = Frontiers in Endocrinology | volume = 4 | pages = 122 | date = September 2013 | pmid = 24062725 | pmc = 3772395 | doi = 10.3389/fendo.2013.00122 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Al-Chalab_2024" /> Other regulators include [[oxytocin]] and [[progesterone]].{{cn|date=September 2023}}

Males and non-pregnant, non-lactating females typically have low levels of prolactin.<ref name="Al-Chalab_2024" /> The number for prolactin cells in a pregnant female will increase to allow for breast tissue development. Prolactin is involved in the maturation of [[mammary gland]]s and their secretion of milk in association with oxytocin, estrogen, progesterone, glucocorticoids, and others. Prolactin has numerous other effects in both sexes.{{cn|date=September 2023}}