lactogenic hormone

In the ensuing years, his research focused on the pituitary and adrenal glands and the lactogenic hormone.

Of the three gonadotrophins of the pituitary, lactogenic hormone is the only one to have been isolated in reasonably pure form.

Older names for it are lactogenic hormone (lak'toh-jen'ik; "milk-producing," a word of mixed Greek and Latin origin) and prolactin ("prior to milk" L).

The etiology of this phenomenon has been principally studied in sheep and seems to result from a temporary relaxation in immunity associated with changes in the circulating levels of the lactogenic hormone, prolactin.

Dr. Friesen was a recipient of the 1977 Canada Gairdner International Award "In recognition of his contributions to the understanding of the biochemistry, physiology and pathophysiology of lactogenic hormones and, in particular, for the identification of human prolactin."