Question

Prolactin is released from the pituitaries of both males and females. Provide two possible reasons why males find it physiologically useful to release this “lactational” hormone.          

Answer 1

Answer

• Prolactin is the hormone released from anterior pituitary gland.
• Its primary function is to promote milk production in lactating women.

- Anterior pituitary in males also release small amounts of prolactin.

Prolactin can be useful in two ways to the males.

1) Testosterone production
- It increases the concentration of Leutinizing hormone receptors on Leydig's cells in testes.
- It facilitates LH to stimulate testosterone production.
- Testosterone hormone stimulates secondary sexual characteristics in males.

2) Myelination
- Prolaction helps in proliferation of the oligodendrocyte precursor cells.
- Oligodendrocyte precurssor cells facilitate regenration of damaged oligodendrocytes.
- Oligodensrocytes are neuroglia in central nervous system that produced myelin.