Definition

Noun: 1. A hormone stimulating milk production: Luteotropin is a protein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. Its primary function is to stimulate and maintain the secretion of milk (lactation) in the mammary glands after childbirth.

Usage

• Luteotropin is a specific, scientific term used primarily in the fields of biology, endocrinology, and medicine.
• It is used to discuss physiological processes related to reproduction and lactation.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The release of luteotropin is essential for initiating lactation in new mothers.
  • Prolactin, also known as luteotropin, is regulated by the hypothalamus.

Advanced Usage

• "Luteotropic effect": This phrase describes the biological action of stimulating or supporting the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure in the ovary. While "luteotropin" primarily refers to prolactin's role in lactation, its name derives from this secondary effect in some species.
  • In rodents, the hormone exhibits a significant luteotropic effect.

Variants and Related Words

• Prolactin (n): This is the more common and clinically standard synonym for luteotropin.
• Luteotrophic (adj): The alternative spelling for the adjective form.
• Luteotropic (adj): Describing an agent, like the hormone, that stimulates the corpus luteum.
  • The hormone has luteotropic properties.

Synonyms

• Prolactin: The most direct and frequently used synonym.
• Lactogenic hormone: A descriptive synonym highlighting its function in milk production.
• Mammotropin: Another synonym emphasizing its action on the mammary glands.

Notes on Meaning

While the core definition of luteotropin is synonymous with prolactin and centers on lactation, its etymology points to an additional, species-specific function: 1. Primary Meaning (Human Context): The hormone that induces and maintains milk secretion (identical to prolactin). 2. Etymological/Secondary Meaning: An agent that promotes the growth and secretory activity of the corpus luteum ("luteo-" refers to the corpus luteum, "-tropin" means to stimulate). This effect is prominent in some animals but is not its primary role in humans.

Noun

1. gonadotropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary; in females it stimulates growth of the mammary glands and lactation after parturition