Dynamic evaluation of prolactin secretion with sulpiride and thyrotrophin releasing hormone in amenorrhoeic and normally menstruating women

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Abstract
Sulpiride and TRH were used to evaluate the dynamics of prolactin (Prl) release in normoprolactinemic, amenorrheic and normally menstruating women. The 2 tests were performed in a randomized order with an interval of 2-3 days. In the normal women the 1st test was carried out between days 2 and 4 of their cycle. Basal values during the 2 tests were not statistically different (9.6 .+-. 1.2 SE vs. 10.7 .+-. 1.4 ng/ml in amenorrheic women with sulpiride and 11.3 .+-. 1.4 vs. 12.4 .+-. 1.7 in amenorrheic women during the TRH test). The 2 tests were performed while the subjects of the 2 groups had identical serum estrogen concentrations. The Prl [prolactin] following TRH administration was similar in both groups (.DELTA.max .hivin.X [maximum change in the mean] 49.5 .+-. 12.5 SE and 49.4 .+-. 8.5 SE in normal and amenorrheic women, respectively). When release by sulpiride administration was studied the normal women had greater Prl release (.DELTA.max .hivin.X 169.9 .+-. 18.2 SE) than amenorrheic women (.DELTA.max .hivin.X 99.8 .+-. 9.4). Either the different estrogen status (lower in amenorrheic women than in menstruating women) or the hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction, likely to be responsible for the amenorrhea in these patients, may explain the lower Prl release observed after sulpiride in subjects with amenorrhea.