17-07-2014, 04:30
(17-07-2014, 00:40)Lotus Wrote: During pregnancy, high circulating concentrations of estrogen increase prolactin levels by 10- to 20-fold.
I don't think that's how it goes.
During pregnancy, it's the placenta that raises progesterone sky high, to prevent a miscarriage. Progesterone=the pregnancy hormone. Now, progesterone from the placenta signals the pituitary to release more prolactin. Progesterone is the dominant hormone during pregnancy, and prolactin is secondary
Prolactin is stimulated by the baby breastfeeding, which also stops menstruation. When the baby is no longer breastfed, the menstrual cycle returns to normal. Here prolactin influences progesterone to also rise. Prolactin is the dominant hormone during breastfeed, and its function is breastfeeding. The reason for this is, the mother doesn't need to seek partners while nursing her child.
Both prolactin and progesterone lower estrogens. And estrogens lower both prolactin and progesterone.
If you meant [During pregnancy, high circulating concentrations of '''progesterone''' increase prolactin], that sounds more right, but I'm not sure by how much.
(17-07-2014, 00:40)Lotus Wrote: Excessive estrogen in circumstances of deficient progesterone induces a decrease in [estrogen] receptor sensitivity. One of progesterone's functions is to restore the normal sensitivity of estrogen receptors. When progesterone is restored, estrogen receptor sensitivity is restored also.
Clarified estrogen receptor. The rest is right.