Inhibitory effect of calcium on serum prolactin

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Abstract
The effect of Ca infusions on serum prolactin (Prl) was studied in normal controls and children with disorders of Ca metabolism: 3 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (vitamin D deficiency rickets), 2 children with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, 13 epileptic patients with anticonvulsant drug induced inhibition of calcitonin (CT) secretion and 1 patient with vitamin D resistant rickets with normal Ca and low PTH parathyroid hormone secretion. Ca induced a significant decline of serum Prl in most subjects which could not be explained by the associated increase of CT or decrease of immunoreactive PTH. The important role of Ca for the in vitro secretion of dopamine has been established for a long time. The inhibitory effect of Ca infusion on serum Prl may be due to dopamine release from nerve tracts in the hypothalamus.