Hormones and lactation Review article published

The LRF OCEHL team have just published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology an article summarising what is currently known about the role of hormones in mammary gland development and functions. It also discusses areas for future research that could resolve lactation disorders that impact breastfeeding.

Read the full article “Hormonal regulation of mammary gland development and lactation”.

The article covers these key points:  

• How (and which) hormones influence the way mammary glands develop, from puberty to pregnancy and throughout lactation

• How hormones like prolactin stimulate the lactation process, and how hormone disorders lead to delayed lactation onset or insufficient milk production – both causes of early breastfeeding cessation

• How diabetes, genetic diseases and environmental contaminants can disrupt hormonal control of lactation

Further investigation, say the authors, is needed to deepen our understanding of the endocrine regulation of lactation. This in turn should provide mechanistic insight about the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and their children – and point the way to better management of lactation disorders.