Endocrine Abstracts

Increased mammary metabolism is critical for initiating lactation during postpartum days 1-4. We utilised clinical and cellular approaches to investigate whether thyroid hormones, which promote lactation in rodents, are involved in initiating human lactation and regulating mammary metabolism. We recruited n=30 pregnant women following informed consent and measured serum thyroid hormones (free T4 and TSH) at 36 weeks’ gestation and on postpartum day 4. Free T4 inc...

The onset of lactation occurs during postpartum days 1-4 and is associated with altered mammary metabolism leading to increased milk component synthesis. We hypothesised that increases in metabolic hormones or cytokines after childbirth may support these processes. To investigate this, we recruited n=12 pregnant women following informed consent and measured: prolactin; thyroid-stimulating hormone; insulin; cortisol; insulin-like growth factor-1; and interleukin-6 (IL-...

The onset of human lactation is characterised by increased breast fullness and the start of copious milk secretion. The process, which typically occurs 1-4 days postpartum, is triggered by a decrease in serum progesterone and high prolactin concentrations, although the exact levels are ill-defined. We aim to establish reference intervals for hormones triggering the onset of sustained lactation and understand how breastfeeding influences hormone secretion, so as to improve the ...