THE DYNAMICS OF PROLACTIN SECRETION DURING THE PUERPERIUM IN WOMEN

This study deals with serum prolactin concentrations during various conditions in the early puerperium in an attempt to investigate some characteristics of the mechanisms responsible for the regulation of the lactotrophes. In nursing, in non‐nursing, non‐medicated and in non‐nursing, bromocriptine‐treated women prolactin and 17β‐oestradiol were measured during the early puerperium. In the first and the third group this was repeated during and after challenge with oestradiol‐benzoate. The pituitary responsiveness to TRH was also determined in these two groups, challenged and unchallenged with oestradiol‐benzoate. Nursing women had higher prolactin levels than the non‐nursing groups, while bromocriptine decreased prolactin to very low levels. Non‐nursing non‐medicated women had prolactin values between those of nursing and those of bromocriptine‐treated mothers. The already elevated prolactin levels in nursing women were not influenced by chronic oestradiol administration. In non‐nursing puerperal women treated with bromocriptine, exogenous oestradiol caused a significant rise in plasma prolactin. The prolactin response to TRH in nursing women was clearly reduced in comparison with the normal menstrual cycle. In the bromocriptine‐treated group the basal concentration of prolactin and its response to TRH stimulation was similar to normal non‐pregnant women. In nursing and in non‐nursing women treated with bromocriptine prolactin responses to TRH were increased after oestradiol challenge.

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