This simulator demonstrates the dual-control architecture of prolactin secretion: constant inhibitory dopamine tone from the hypothalamus versus episodic disinhibition triggered by suckling, and how the resulting prolactin pulses drive both mammary milk synthesis and suppression of the GnRH-driven reproductive axis.
Adjust suckling frequency and session duration to see how often the dopamine brake gets released and how large each resulting prolactin pulse becomes. Adjust baseline dopamine tone to simulate resting physiology or the effect of dopamine-active medications. Adjust lactotroph sensitivity to see how the same prolactin pulse translates into different rates of milk synthesis and different degrees of GnRH pulse suppression, then observe the simulated menstrual cycle status respond over simulated weeks.
Controls: suckling frequency (feeds per day), suckling session duration, baseline hypothalamic dopamine tone, lactotroph D2 receptor sensitivity, and simulated elapsed postpartum weeks; outputs display prolactin pulse amplitude, cumulative milk synthesis rate, and GnRH pulse suppression with simulated cycle status.
Did you know that a pituitary tumor made of lactotrophs, called a prolactinoma, is one of the few tumors that can sometimes be treated primarily with a pill rather than surgery, because dopamine agonist drugs directly re-engage the same D2 receptor brake that suckling normally switches off?
This simulator demonstrates the dual-control architecture of prolactin secretion: constant inhibitory dopamine tone from the hypothalamus versus episodic disinhibition triggered by suckling, and how the resulting prolactin pulses drive both mammary milk synthesis and suppression of the GnRH-driven reproductive axis.
This simulator demonstrates the dual-control architecture of prolactin secretion: constant inhibitory dopamine tone from the hypothalamus versus episodic disinhibition triggered by suckling, and how the resulting prolactin pulses drive both mammary milk synthesis and suppression of the GnRH-driven reproductive axis.
Adjust suckling frequency and session duration to see how often the dopamine brake gets released and how large each resulting prolactin pulse becomes. Adjust baseline dopamine tone to simulate resting physiology or the effect of dopamine-active medications. Adjust lactotroph sensitivity to see how the same prolactin pulse translates into different rates of milk synthesis and different degrees of GnRH pulse suppression, then observe the simulated menstrual cycle status respond over simulated weeks.
Did you know that a pituitary tumor made of lactotrophs, called a prolactinoma, is one of the few tumors that can sometimes be treated primarily with a pill rather than surgery, because dopamine agonist drugs directly re-engage the same D2 receptor brake that suckling normally switches off?