PRL
Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland, a
grape-sized organ found at the base of the brain. Prolactin levels are
regulated by dopamine (a brain chemical), and the hormone is normally
present in low amounts in men and non-pregnant women. Its primary role
is to promote lactation (breast milk production).
Prolactin
levels are usually high throughout pregnancy and just after childbirth.
During pregnancy, prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone stimulate breast
milk development. Following childbirth, prolactin helps initiate and
maintain the breast milk supply.
Besides pregnancy, the most common cause of elevated prolactin levels is
a prolactinoma, a prolactin-producing tumor of the pituitary gland.
Prolactinomas are the most common type of pituitary tumor and are
usually benign. They develop more frequently in women but are also found
in men. Problems from them can arise both from the unintended effects
of excess prolactin, such as milk production in the non-pregnant woman
(and rarely, man) and from the size and location of the tumor.
If the
anterior pituitary gland and/or the tumor enlarge significantly, it can
put pressure on the optic nerve, causing headaches and visual
disturbances, and it can interfere with the other hormones that the
pituitary gland produces. In women, prolactinomas can cause infertility
and irregularities in menstruation; in men, these tumors can cause a
gradual loss in sexual function and desire. If left untreated,
prolactinomas may eventually damage the tissues around them.
Product Specifications:
- Product code: GDB71725
- Calibrators: 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 ng/ml (3rd IS 84/500)
- Sample: 25 µl
- Sensitivity: 1.0 ng/ml
- Total Time: 75 Minutes
- Shelf Life: 18 Months