Master the Biology Bash: 2026 MCAT Biological Systems Practice Challenge!

Prolactin plays a crucial role in breastfeeding by stimulating milk production in the mammary glands. This hormone is released by the anterior pituitary gland in response to suckling and other stimuli related to breastfeeding. The increased levels of prolactin encourage the alveolar cells in the breasts to produce milk, ensuring that the nursing infant receives adequate nutrition. Additionally, higher prolactin levels help maintain milk supply by signaling the body to continue synthesizing and secreting milk as long as breastfeeding continues.

While other hormonal activities occur during breastfeeding, such as the potential inhibition of ovulation due to elevated prolactin levels and the involvement of oxytocin for milk ejection, prolactin specifically is central to the process of milk production. Understanding this function is vital for grasping the physiological mechanisms that support lactation.