Question

Which of the following is not involved in the initiation of parturition in humans?

• A. Release of oxytocin
• B. Release of prolactin
• C. Increase in estrogen and progesterone ratio
• D. Synthesis of prostaglandins

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Release of prolactin

• Parturition is the process of giving birth to a child.
• One of the main roles of oxytocin is to prepare a pregnant woman for childbirth.
• When the fetus is ready to be born, it releases cortisol, which starts a process, that causes the mother's pituitary gland to release oxytocin.
• Once the hormone is released, it causes the uterus to contract, which in turn helps push the baby out. This hormone also plays a role in milk expression.
• An increase in the estrogen to progesterone ratio indicates that the amount of estrogen is more as compared to progesterone. This is known as estrogen dominance and has many adverse effects on female body such as tenderness of breast, accelerated aging and cancer.
• Prolactin promotes milk production (lactation) in mammals after childbirth under the control of dopamine released by the hypothalamus.
• Prostaglandins are the hormone synthesized from the essential fatty acid by almost all nucleated cells.
• They act as autocrine and paracrine lipid mediators that act upon platelets, endothelium, uterine and mast cells.
  Thus, the correct answer is option B.