SIZE HETEROGENEITY OF IMMUNOREACTIVE PROLACTIN IN HYPERPROLACTINAEMIC SERUM

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Abstract
Thirty-five samples of serum with levels of immunoreactive prolactin greater than 500 mU/l were fractionated by gel filtration. In samples from 7 normal subjects with elevated prolactin levels following TRH or insulin stimulation and samples from 12 patients with prolactin levels greater than 1500 mU/l, over 80% of the immunoreactive material eluted in the position of native or little prolactin. In 11 out of 16 samples containing 500-1500 mU/l the proportion of little prolactin was less than 80% and more than 20% eluted as big-big prolactin. Patients with moderately elevated levels of immunoreactive prolactin may not have genuine hyperprolactinemia.