Which hormone is responsible for stimulating milk production?

Prolactin is the hormone primarily responsible for stimulating milk production in mammals. It is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and plays a crucial role during and after pregnancy. Elevated levels of prolactin promote the development of mammary glands and the initiation of lactation, ensuring that mothers can produce milk for their newborns. The process of milk production is essential for the proper nourishment of infants, making prolactin vital in reproductive health and nurturing.

Oxytocin, while also related to milk, primarily aids in milk ejection during nursing rather than production. Somatostatin is a hormone that regulates various physiological processes, including inhibiting the release of other hormones, and insulin primarily manages glucose levels in the blood, making them less relevant to the process of lactation compared to prolactin.