Question

Which hormone is responsible for lobule development and lactation preparation while simultaneously suppressing premature milk ejection during pregnancy?

Options

• Oestrogen from the ovary

• Progesterone from the ovary or corpus luteum

• Oxytocin from the posterior pituitary

• Prolactin from the anterior pituitary

Answer 1

Progesterone, secreted by the ovary and corpus luteum during pregnancy, is essential for lobule development in preparation for lactation. Crucially, it also suppresses premature milk ejection during pregnancy, preventing lactation before parturition and ensuring milk production begins only after childbirth.