Prolactin in men

Prolactin is a hormone that is involved in the regulation of lactation processes in women during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. It is believed that this hormone is inherent only in the female body, but in the male body it is also present. In men, it promotes the formation and proper development of spermatozoa, as well as the production of testosterone.

What is prolactin?

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone that secrete the following structures:

• Lactotropic cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland;
• Decidual membrane of the placenta;
• The mucous membrane of the uterus (endometrium).

The main function of prolactin is the growth and development of the breast, as well as intensive stimulation of lactation. Scientists refer prolactin to stress hormones, because with increased stress, psychological trauma, fatigue or the effect of any external unfavorable factors, its content in the human body increases.

Despite the fact that until now prolactin refers to poorly studied hormones (there are no data on its participation in other metabolic processes yet), some information about it has accumulated over the entire period of research. These studies concerned not only the role of prolactin as a humoral regulator of the reproductive function in women, they also affected the participation of this polypeptide in metabolic processes that are characteristic only of the male body. These processes include, for example, the fact that prolactin in men affects the production of normal viable spermatozoa. For processes of brain activity, men also need prolactin.

Just do not think that in the male body the functions of this hormone are similar to its humoral metabolism in the female body. Such an opinion would be wrong. Physiologically, prolactin in men, as in women, is produced in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. In addition, in this process is involved another structure of the human brain - the hypothalamus. Almost all tissues and organs of the human body contain prolactin molecules, as well as receptors that react to this hormone. However, science does not yet have more precise information about the function of prolactin and its role in the processes occurring in these organs.

Prolactin in men and women: differences

Since in the hormonal status and physiology of the sexual organs of men and women there is a significant difference, in this case, of course, the role of prolactin will be different. In particular, differences will manifest themselves with any pathologies, diseases, etc. For example, a sign of pregnancy in a woman at the examination will be the presence of an increased level of prolactin, because by the eighth week of pregnancy its level will increase dramatically.

Under normal conditions, the hormone prolactin in men increases the level of testosterone, and in such a state as chronic prolactinemia, which is caused by changes in the secretion of luteinizing hormone, the production of testosterone by specialized Leydig cells is reduced. The formation of androgens of the adrenal glands (namely the mesh cortex) directly depends on the level of prolactin.

Prolactin is increased: the causes

Increased prolactin levels in men indicate a variety of diseases, and has a specific clinical symptomatology. These diseases include various tumors of the pituitary gland. Symptomatic diseases in men and women are different. In men, an increase in the level of this hormone leads to impotence, fading and softening of the testicles, and in women - causes menstrual irregularities, up to infertility. Such a clinical picture can be and when the tumor affects only the sex glands. For example, in women it is polycystic ovary, and in men, respectively - prostate adenoma.